http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130202/OPINION/302020314/-1/OPINION02
By Craig Dutra, Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts and Coalition for Social Justice; Corinn Williams, Center for Economic Development; Ma
Over the past year, New Bedford Public Schools have marked a turning point with a number of changes that have put New Bedford on a path to improved achievement and innovation. Initiatives such as the change in district leadership, the creation and recommendations of the NBHS Student Committee for Educational Progress and the acceptance of the Guidelines for Small Autonomous Schools have all created opportunities to help meet the needs of the students.
While we are all concerned that the graduation rate and other indicators — from performance district-wide to retention in the high school — are causes for serious concern, we believe that these initiatives have the potential to bring progress to the district.
The common thread in these initiatives is that School Committee leadership, working closely with community stakeholders, took bold action to tackle this educational crisis.
With the proposal of two small public Innovation Schools, we have a rare opportunity to further empower teachers and create more pathways for students to achieve academically. The Esperanza School for Language and Culture will bring valuable new approaches to educating bilingual children and bridging New Bedford cultures. The Renaissance Community School for the Arts will provide a new model of arts-integrated education that will nourish the city's blossoming arts community, and pilot an easily accessible system of providing services to families.
These schools will provide models for innovative practices that can benefit the entire district. With time and commitment from the district, the schools and their many partners and supporters, all students can benefit from these strategies.
We all agree that the needs of students must come first. In this moment, we cannot afford to hold New Bedford back.
We call on the New Bedford School Committee to ensure negotiations on the Renaissance Community School for the Arts and the Esperanza School of Language and Culture Innovation Plans are completed in good faith, protecting the full scope of autonomy as stated in Guideline No. 3 of the Guidelines for Small, Autonomous Schools adopted by the School Committee Feb. 13, 2012. These autonomies will be the key to the schools' success.
We call on each member of the School Committee to vote yes to open these new schools in September 2013. A yes vote will be a clear sign that the committee is committed to transformation and progress in the school district; a no vote will signal little willingness to act on promises to put students first.
Students deserve it. Parents expect it. The city of New Bedford needs it.
Editor's Note: The following people signed an Op-Ed printed in The Standard-Times on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, supporting proposed innovation schools in New Bedford.
- Craig Dutra, Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts
- United Interfaith Action
- Tom Davis, Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation
- Coalition for Social Justice
- Rev. Dave Hammet, Pilgrim United Church of Christ
- Darlene Spencer, for Community Connections Coalition
- Corinn Williams, for Center for Economic Development
- Maria Rosario, North Star Learning
- Bob French, North Star Learning
- Anthony Sapienza, President & COO, Joseph Abboud Mfg. Corp.
- Lee Charlton, NAACP
- Jim Mathes, New Bedford resident
- Kate Fentress, MSW, Executive Director, Women's Fund
- Craig Lindell, CEO, AquaPoint
- Justin Braga
- Dr. Carolee Matsumoto, Senior Scientist at the Education Development Center, retired, Education Consultant
- Rev. Paul Langston-Daley, First Unitarian Church
- Fr. Marek Chmurski, St. Lawrence Martyr
- Ken Hartnett
- John Vasconcellos
- Irene Buck, Chair, MassCreative
- Rabbi Raphael Kanter, Tifereth Israel Synagogue
- Gail Fortes, for YWCA Southeastern Mass
- Robert Pereira, President, AFC Cable Systems, Inc.
- Helena DaSilva Hughes, Immigrants Assistance Center
- Adam Viera, Student Committee for Educational Progress
- Rhoda Purcell, New Bedford High School, retired
- Kathy Miraglia, Associate Professor of Art Education, Chairperson of Art Education Department, UMass-Dartmouth
- Cathy Smilan, Associate Professor of Art Education, Director, Master of Art Education Program, UMass-Dartmouth
- Laurie Robertson-Lorant, Ph.D., Education Committee Chair, New Bedford Historical Society, Adjunct Professor, English Department, Bridgewater State University
- Noelle Foye, Executive Director, ArtWorks
- Rev. Rebecca Blair
- Dawn Blake-Souza, New Bedford Public Schools principal, retired
- Centro Communitario de Trabajadores
- Dr. Bruce Rose, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Emeritus, UMass- Dartmouth
- Lee Blake, Director, UMass Campus Compact
- Denise Porche, Executive Director, Island Foundation
- Stephanie Wick, Educational Consultant
- Rev. Marc Fallon, C.S.C., Catholic Social Services
- Dr. Susan Costa, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus, UMass-Dartmouth
- Kathy Westgate-Vena, M.S.W.
- Dante Vena, Ph.D.
- Carol Pimentel, Director of Internal Audit, retired
- Ivone Rego-Cass, Executive Director & Founder, Reel Serious, Documentary Film Program
- Nelson Abreu, Assistant Director, Department of Transitional Assistance
- Rev. Brian Souza, Pastor, The Centre
