John A. Parker School Press Release - Dr. Pia Durkin

Press Statement

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Pia Durkin, Ph.D.

Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools

Today, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the accountability designations for the Level 4 schools in the Commonwealth that were part of the original cohort of 34 schools identified in 2010. A Level 4 designation means that a school is underperforming. This original Level 4 cohort included the John A. Parker Elementary School in New Bedford. Under state law, Level 4 schools must create three-year turnaround plans. At the end of the three years, the Commissioner of Education reviews each Level 4 school’s progress and determines whether it should retain its Level 4 designation.
During the past three years of its Level 4 accountability status, the Parker School worked to improve its performance, but it fell short of its ambitious goals for turnaround. Commissioner Chester has informed me that he intends to place the Parker School under consideration for Level 5 designation (“chronically underperforming”) accountability status in order to increase the opportunity for dramatic improvement at the school.

Mayor Mitchell, the School Committee and I are committed to strong and accelerated improvement for all the students at Parker School Even before Commissioner Chester’s announcement today, we had been closely monitoring the Parker School’s progress, and in the past months we have made substantial changes that we believe will lead to improvement.

A long-standing New Bedford instructional leader with a results-oriented approach, Ms. Deb Letendre, has become Parker’s Principal. Over 50% of the staff is new to the school, and they are bringing a renewed sense of commitment and passion for teaching and learning to the students they are serving. The school day has been extended with increased time on learning. New core literacy and writing programs are being used at Parker, which will pave the way to replicate those programs throughout the district. Additional staff have been allocated to Parker to support teachers in their professional development and their collaborative efforts with each other. We have also engaged many community partners to help welcome and engage our Parker families to be proud and active partners in their children’s learning.

Before the Commissioner makes his decision on Parker’s designation status, he will provide an opportunity for members of the Parker School community to meet with him to discuss progress at the school. After considering these conversations and the school’s data, the Commissioner will make his final determination about Level 5 designation. I will be working with the Commissioner and his staff to plan a public meeting in New Bedford in the next few weeks. Once that meeting is confirmed, I will share information about how community members can participate.

The Parker School has outstanding students who are working very hard. This accountability conversation is not a reflection on their efforts or abilities or on our work in setting a new day for all of our New Bedford Schools. We stand by our core principle that every student, at every school, including Parker, can succeed. We are and will continue to work providing an effective learning environment for the students at Parker and in all our schools.

Whatever the Commissioner decides, I am committed and focused on using this opportunity to ensure that all of Parker’s students receive an excellent education, working side-by-side with Ms. Letendre and Parker’s staff, with Mayor Mitchell and the School Committee, as well as with Commissioner Chester to achieve this end.