The Standard Times - April 5, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130405/OPINION/304050309/
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Members must decide whether the fears of creating a district of haves and have-nots are legitimate, or if they are being made by a vocal group who don't see the current disparity in the schools: from students in schools more than 100 years old, to those in schools with principals and teachers who are unable to effectively marshal resources obscured by years of administration in an antiquated business office.
But she [Dr. Pia Durkin] was in no way ambivalent in her support for what they represent: choice, initiative and people not satisfied with the status quo who want to create solutions. Yes, she said, the schools must conform to the rules, but we need to "encourage the entrepreneurial ideas for healthy, fruitful competition where kids can succeed and which we can replicate."
We believe that the arguments in favor of greater opportunity for New Bedford students — improved literacy in two languages at the Esperanza School of Language and Culture planned for Roosevelt Middle School and holistic arts integration at the Renaissance Community School for the Arts at Gomes School — make a favorable vote by every member of the School Committee for both schools a necessity.
We have to start somewhere, and if it takes a courageous vote by the School Committee despite the vocal opponents, so be it.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Group rallies for innovation schools before Monday vote
The Standard Times - April 5, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130405/NEWS/304050330/
By Natalie Sherman, Writer for The Standard Times
nsherman@s-t.com
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Roughly 200 people rallied Thursday in support of innovation schools in an effort to convince School Committee members to vote in favor of the controversial proposals.
Parent Denis Rodriguez, speaking in Spanish, called on the committee to approve the schools, saying the district needs "new ideas" to better serve its children.
"I am sure that the Esperanza School is one of those," he said.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130405/NEWS/304050330/
By Natalie Sherman, Writer for The Standard Times
nsherman@s-t.com
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Roughly 200 people rallied Thursday in support of innovation schools in an effort to convince School Committee members to vote in favor of the controversial proposals.
Parent Denis Rodriguez, speaking in Spanish, called on the committee to approve the schools, saying the district needs "new ideas" to better serve its children.
"I am sure that the Esperanza School is one of those," he said.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Your View: Esperanza School opens the world for students
The Standard Times - April 4, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130404/OPINION/304040338
Cynthia Yoken, New Bedford
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
As a retired foreign language teacher from the New Bedford Public Schools, I am happy that the Esperanza School will soon offer the children of New Bedford the opportunity to be bilingual and to learn two languages. It is a win-win situation for the children from Spanish-speaking homes to learn English in the same classroom with native-born students who will have the opportunity to learn Spanish.
Now, with a formal program in place as the Esperanza School, it will be even better to have our own English-speaking students have the opportunity to learn Spanish and to continue it through high school along with their Spanish-speaking peers. The friendships that will develop from the interactions between the English-speaking child and the Spanish-speaking child will be wonderful, as each child will help the other to learn about American culture and Spanish or Latin American culture.
I applaud the designers of the Esperanza School, who have worked hard to set up such a fine model for our young people in New Bedford.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130404/OPINION/304040338
Cynthia Yoken, New Bedford
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
As a retired foreign language teacher from the New Bedford Public Schools, I am happy that the Esperanza School will soon offer the children of New Bedford the opportunity to be bilingual and to learn two languages. It is a win-win situation for the children from Spanish-speaking homes to learn English in the same classroom with native-born students who will have the opportunity to learn Spanish.
Now, with a formal program in place as the Esperanza School, it will be even better to have our own English-speaking students have the opportunity to learn Spanish and to continue it through high school along with their Spanish-speaking peers. The friendships that will develop from the interactions between the English-speaking child and the Spanish-speaking child will be wonderful, as each child will help the other to learn about American culture and Spanish or Latin American culture.
I applaud the designers of the Esperanza School, who have worked hard to set up such a fine model for our young people in New Bedford.
Great divide remains on innovation schools
The Standard Times - April 2, 2012
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130402/NEWS/304020341/
By Natalie Sherman, Writer for The Standard Times
nsherman@s-t.com
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
"New Bedford must change as a district. To obtain that change we must begin somewhere," said Andrea Galipeau, a design team member for one of the proposals. "If these schools are not approved, what is your plan?"
The School Committee will vote next week on the two proposals: one for the bilingual, immersion Esperanza School of Language and Culture and another for the Renaissance Community School for the Arts.
The schools would receive about $4,200 per pupil in district funding — the average of other elementary schools in the district — in exchange for autonomy over areas such as staffing and curriculum.
They would offer options — foreign language classes in the elementary and middle school grades and integrated arts programming — that are currently unavailable in the district and would share space inside the Roosevelt Middle and Gomes Elementary, respectively. (To hear more about the plans, visit the Editorial Board Audio on SouthCoastToday.com.)
Notes from the Esperanza Team:
The school would not receive the per-pupil-expenditure "in exchange for" any autonomies. In writing the innovation school plan, all available autonomies were requested. The autonomies are listed in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 92, Subsection b.
Also, all schools in the district will have a site-based budget. Each school will have its own budget based on per-pupil-expenditure to pay for salaries and materials. The PPE allocated to the innovation schools is an average of the PPE at six New Bedford elementary schools. The legislation cited above states: "An Innovation School shall receive each school year from the school committee the same per pupil allocation as any other district school receives."
Lastly, the Esperanza School of Language and Culture is proposing the implementation of a two-way dual language immersion program. For more information about this program model, click the "for_parents" or "para_padres" labels on the right.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130402/NEWS/304020341/
By Natalie Sherman, Writer for The Standard Times
nsherman@s-t.com
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
"New Bedford must change as a district. To obtain that change we must begin somewhere," said Andrea Galipeau, a design team member for one of the proposals. "If these schools are not approved, what is your plan?"
The School Committee will vote next week on the two proposals: one for the bilingual, immersion Esperanza School of Language and Culture and another for the Renaissance Community School for the Arts.
The schools would receive about $4,200 per pupil in district funding — the average of other elementary schools in the district — in exchange for autonomy over areas such as staffing and curriculum.
They would offer options — foreign language classes in the elementary and middle school grades and integrated arts programming — that are currently unavailable in the district and would share space inside the Roosevelt Middle and Gomes Elementary, respectively. (To hear more about the plans, visit the Editorial Board Audio on SouthCoastToday.com.)
Notes from the Esperanza Team:
The school would not receive the per-pupil-expenditure "in exchange for" any autonomies. In writing the innovation school plan, all available autonomies were requested. The autonomies are listed in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 92, Subsection b.
Also, all schools in the district will have a site-based budget. Each school will have its own budget based on per-pupil-expenditure to pay for salaries and materials. The PPE allocated to the innovation schools is an average of the PPE at six New Bedford elementary schools. The legislation cited above states: "An Innovation School shall receive each school year from the school committee the same per pupil allocation as any other district school receives."
Lastly, the Esperanza School of Language and Culture is proposing the implementation of a two-way dual language immersion program. For more information about this program model, click the "for_parents" or "para_padres" labels on the right.
Your View: Give the students of New Bedford the opportunity they deserve
The Standard Times - April 3, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130403/OPINION/304030313/
Shana Silva, New Bedford
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Other cities and states have embraced the dual immersion program, and it is imperative that New Bedford does the same. Education is transforming, and it is crucial that New Bedford keeps up with the times. We must not be left behind.
I would like to mention the fact that I have conducted a substantial amount of ethnographic qualitative research at a dual immersion school in Roxbury. During my time in Roxbury, I witnessed firsthand the extremely positive and dynamic effects that the program can have on its students and its community. The community was extremely tight knit and involved in the program, and the students, both the native English-speaking students and the native Spanish-speaking students, were all bilingual by the time they were in the fifth grade.
Students gained a sense of respect for one another's cultures and beliefs. They learned to be sensitive to cultural differences. The native English-speaking children understood and respected the Latino culture, and the native Spanish-speaking students reciprocated that level of appreciation and respect for American culture.
This level of tolerance, understanding and cooperation among different cultures would be an exemplary model in which the entire community could learn from.
Esperanza school will not only make a positive difference in the lives of our students, but it will also have a tremendous impact in our community. Esperanza school will provide the English and Spanish speaking students of New Bedford with the advantage they deserve.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130403/OPINION/304030313/
Shana Silva, New Bedford
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Other cities and states have embraced the dual immersion program, and it is imperative that New Bedford does the same. Education is transforming, and it is crucial that New Bedford keeps up with the times. We must not be left behind.
I would like to mention the fact that I have conducted a substantial amount of ethnographic qualitative research at a dual immersion school in Roxbury. During my time in Roxbury, I witnessed firsthand the extremely positive and dynamic effects that the program can have on its students and its community. The community was extremely tight knit and involved in the program, and the students, both the native English-speaking students and the native Spanish-speaking students, were all bilingual by the time they were in the fifth grade.
Students gained a sense of respect for one another's cultures and beliefs. They learned to be sensitive to cultural differences. The native English-speaking children understood and respected the Latino culture, and the native Spanish-speaking students reciprocated that level of appreciation and respect for American culture.
This level of tolerance, understanding and cooperation among different cultures would be an exemplary model in which the entire community could learn from.
Esperanza school will not only make a positive difference in the lives of our students, but it will also have a tremendous impact in our community. Esperanza school will provide the English and Spanish speaking students of New Bedford with the advantage they deserve.
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