MTA Today - Winter 2013
http://www.massteacher.org/news/archive/2013/~/media/Files/PDFs/MTAT/13winter.pdf
By Laura Barrett, Communications Specialist for Massachusetts Teachers Association
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Innovation Schools are similar to Horace Mann
Charter Schools and to Boston’s Pilot Schools,
though there are differences in implementation.
Innovation Schools have more flexibility and
autonomy than most district schools with regard to
curriculum, staffing, budget, scheduling, professional
development and district policies.
Staff members at these schools still belong to
their local associations and are often very involved
in the design and implementation of changes. Some
plans require negotiating waivers to the union
contract, while others do not.
Innovation School plans may be proposed by
teachers, unions, district administrators, community
residents or other interested parties. Applicants may
seek a planning grant from the state. The local school
committee must approve the plan before it can move
forward, and the district oversees the school as it
would any other district school. Innovation Schools
are supposed to receive the same per-pupil allotment
as other schools, although — like any school — they
can apply for grant money.
In Worcester, there were concerns about
the voting process at Worcester Technical High
School. Despite those concerns, Leonard Zalauskas,
president of the Educational Association of
Worcester, said that Innovation Schools can
be “magic” when they work, giving teachers
a chance to transform their own schools and
generating excitement and creativity among the
staff. Worcester has eight Innovation Schools,
including a dual-language program, an accelerated
magnet program and two that emphasize science,
technology, engineering and mathematics.
“Down here there are a lot of charter schools and
school choice districts,” [President of the Dennis-Yarmouth Educators Association, Erin] Porter said. “We know we
have to do something that’s a little different to appeal
to our customer base — the parents. The teachers are
working very hard on this and are dedicated. It may
be a little too quick, but I think we will succeed.”
[MTA President Paul] Toner said he hopes that expansion of successful
Innovation Schools will help convince legislators
and the public that they do not have to lift the cap
on charter schools to promote new ideas and choice
in public education. Systems are already in place for
Innovation Schools to share their ideas with other
schools that want to replicate their practices.
