Board of Ed: Level 5 update

Johnston: review of quarter one results; report here
Rodriguez: pull out some themes
pretty intensive support and assistance to Level 5 districts and schools: liaison from the department
coordinate support provided plus monitor implementation of turnaround plan
figure out what support is needed from department or elsewhere
quarterly updates from Level 5 schools; benchmarks
make mid-course adjustments
"a lot of time right now analyzing results"
schools jumping into variance by grade (growth by grade)
"this is a snapshot in time"
"really make decisions about resources"
digging in with receivers
working to see if other testing is aligned with state assessments
all schools spent professional development time on school cultures and curriculum
"really strong instructional leadership structures"
"really a refinement of the work"
big challenge relates to staffing; "big picture, we know this relates not just to Level 4 schools, not just to Level 5 schools"
looking at efforts schools are putting in
"have turnover that happens in the late summer"
hardest one is principal at Parker is stepping down for personal reasons
good news is seeing places with deeper benches; still change, which is hard to manage
"asserting ourselves and involving ourselves a little more directly"
Q from Moriarty: not as much in Dever?
Dever worked with Boston; cautious, as has been an issue in past years
Moriarty: "see this business of August resignations extremely troublesome...these are licensed accredited professionals"
"but for folks who are doing it for convenience for a better opportunity...I don't think that behavior is ethical"
"there's something unconscionable about that"

Johnston: Southbridge
focused on schools being ready to welcome students back
then turned to new receiver
listening to community to see the qualities wanted in new receiver
four: community building; integrity; resourcefulness; shared vision
turnaround plan "is right plan for district" community felt, so need someone who will implement
networking and are encouraging people to apply
hope to be interviewing by Thanksgiving; hope to have choice by close to year's end, I'm gathering
To Q from Trimarchi: network among receivers; common themed meetings; have visited each other's districts
how DESE brings to bear ideas across districts
for schools to own the change
25 urban districts gather each month; agenda co-developed with DESE
a real emphasis on trauma on learning this year