The Standard Times - March 2, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130222/OPINION/302220304/
By Sister Marianna Sylvester
Sister Marianna Sylvester serves at Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
As Mayor Mitchell stated in his Education Agenda — The Time to Act is Now: "We will move our school system and our city forward only if we recognize the need to change and to collaborate toward mutual goals."
A tangible sign that the city school district is moving forward comes in the form of a grant for $20,000 from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the design teams of the Renaissance Community School for the Arts and the Esperanza School of Culture and Language. The attainment of this grant money is a vote of confidence, and a reason for the district to be proud of the hard work that is being put forth by teachers and administrators.
Let us agree that "The Time to Act is Now!" The mayor and the School Committee have demonstrated their willingness to move the New Bedford Public Schools forward by seeking a new superintendent; two design teams have taken up the challenge to present excellent proposals; the state has allocated start-up grant money for these schools; the city is planning for a future with small neighborhood learning communities in the South End; and children need every opportunity to be successful now. A yes vote from the School Committee to support the creation of the Renaissance Community School and the Esperanza School of Language and Culture in 2013 will give credence to the reputation of a school district that states it is ready to grow and change.
