SPS: Dressed for success

By the time I became superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, the school uniform policy was already underway thanks to the commitment and great work of the School Committee. As I walk the halls and visit the classrooms of our schools, I am always impressed by how smartly dressed our students are. Sure, there have been some learning curves along the way. Principals have had the difficult task of striking just the right balance between monitoring students for proper attire while remaining focused on what matters most – classroom teaching and learning.

Recently, the School Committee amended the uniform policy to include very specific sweatshirt and cardigan options for high school students. This change was based largely on feedback from school administrators. The School Committee’s ongoing commitment to the SPS school uniform policy is part of the reason school districts throughout the region turn to us for advise, counsel and suggestions on this issue.

Community responds to new program

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the more than 400 parents who have already signed up for - and in many cases participated in - the recently launched Springfield Parent Academy.

The journey that has taken the Parent Academy from a concept to a reality has been an amazing one, filled with stories of commitment to and belief in the mission of the academy.

The fact that more than 400 people have already signed up is proof positive that our community was ripe for this unprecedented opportunity, which we believe will help strengthen our parents, our families, our students and our community. It has been made possible only through the hard work of many community organizations and will flourish only with parental engagement.

Once again, congratulations to all involved! To learn more about the Springfield Parent Academy and its free offerings, log on to www.SpringfieldParentAcademy.com.

College Month

This month is “College Awareness Month” in the City of Springfield. Throughout the year, the district continually offers college access programs and services in partnership with area colleges and universities, as well as community organizations; but this month, Springfield joins many cities nationwide in setting October aside as a distinct time for students of all ages to learn more about continuing their education after high school. “College Awareness Month” builds on pre-existing events that take place in October, such as the administration of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and local college fairs, to spread the message of college awareness throughout the district. Many of our students do enroll in college after graduation, but the numbers are still too low. In June, 887 out of 1,200 seniors reported they had been accepted to college; and the Springfield Renaissance School graduated its first senior class in June with a 100 percent college acceptance rate. The national conversation and school reform efforts clearly articulate that every student graduating from high school is career and college ready. In a school district with an over 80% poverty rate, we must galvanize district and community resources to ensure that every child in SPS knows that college is a realistic option for all of our students.

Grants represent state, federal confidence in SPS

It’s a good time to be in education and a great time to be in Springfield! The district ushered in the start of school amid a flurry of high profile guests and announcements this year, beginning with US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s visit to the High School of Commerce on the first day of school. There, the secretary publicly recognized the great work we have engaged in to transform our lowest-performing schools and referred to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a national leader in school reform. But the good news did not stop there. Below is a summary of the announcements we have received this school year. I am pleased to receive this funding; however, the real progress forward depends on our effective and strategic stewardship of these resources. Nonetheless, each represents a vote of confidence around the work underway and an affirmation in our capacity to deliver reform.

· Race to the Top - $13.7 million - The grant is designed to help school districts fund innovative programs, turn around poor-performing schools and improve graduation rates. Massachusetts is one of nine states and the District of Columbia awarded Race to the Top funding and Springfield received the region’s largest award. Among innovative ways the school district is planning to spend the money include extended school days, after-school programs, and the development of a special corps of teachers assigned to low-performing schools

· Teacher Incentive Fund - 5-year, $26.8 million grant to be shared by Springfield and Boston – The grant is designed to fund teacher incentives and to help retain and attract educators in Springfield’s 10 underperforming schools. Under the grant, all staff in a school that meets certain goals will receive additional pay. The grant will also help fund targeted professional development and a new teacher evaluation system.

· Education Jobs Grant - $5.3 million – The grant is designed to help cover salaries for an estimated 100 Springfield Public Schools teachers.

· Magnet School Assistance Program - $3.8 million a year for the next three years - The grant is designed to help strengthen students' knowledge and confidence in core academic subjects and with marketable vocational skills. The following schools, and their proposed themes, will utilize the funding. Springfield Central High School (Advanced Studies and the Arts); Springfield High School of Science and Technology (STEM Academies and 21st Century Communications); Van Sickle Middle School (Middle Years International Baccalaureate Program and 21st Century Global Communications); and STEM Middle Academy (STEM and Expeditionary Learning).

· Strategic Planning Grant - $150,000 - The grant is designed to allow administrators to implement the work processes necessary to help address the priorities identified in the district’s 3-year Strategic Plan. Strategic Grant Partners, a Boston-based pro bono consulting firm, provides the grant t in partnership with the District Management Council, an organization that provides strategic insights and practical solutions to the most pressing challenges facing school system leaders nationwide.

Community engagement at its best

The Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover Foundation Anti-Bullying Back-to-School 5k Road Race/2K WALK that took place over the weekend at Forest Park is a shining example of the kind of community engagement that makes a real difference. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the foundation for your great work in organizing an event that drew together people from inside and outside of our city borders; children and adults; people of all ethnic backgrounds; from various organizations and faith-based affiliations. Just as importantly, I extend a hearty congratulations to all who took part in the event. Your involvement and engagement in issues that impact youth is critical to the mission of Springfield Public Schools; and the only way we can expect real change to take place.