Today's Board of Ed meeting has been moved to fully remote--you can catch the livestream here--which I presume means that they're actually allowing remote public comment (which they should do all the time, not that anyone asked me). In addition to two rounds of regulations coming back for votes (on the seal of biliteracy and on student records), the main presentations are on educator preparation and "accelerated early literacy program" and the Commissioner's goals.
While we wait, I'm going to write a little about Lawrence, which I've been meaning to write about...
The big news, of course, remains that the Commissioner has appointed Deputy Commissioner Lauren Woo as the receiver of Lawrence, meaning that the strange appointed board that didn't seem accountable to anyone at all is out. I suspect, and it was explicitly stated in the letter to Lawrence, that this is designed to move them closer to being out of receivership:
In the letter, Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez said an individual as receiver, rather than an organization, could better prepare the Lawrence School Committee to take over leadership of the school district when it’s ready.
“This change is designed to support a thoughtful and phased-in transition while also allowing the work to move efficiently,” Martinez said in the letter.
Also of note, the Department actually responded to the letter sent by Lawrence School Committee member Jonathan Guzman about current Superintendent Ralph Carrero:
“Since the appointment of the current leadership, Lawrence Public Schools has descended into a culture of fear, intimidation, and retaliation,” Guzman said in the letter.
The letter claims that “promotions and hiring decisions” were made based on “personal and political connections” and that 23 people were hired who “are known to have personal and political ties to leadership.”
The current leadership was also accused of “belittling staff in front of peers, employing intimidation tactics, and engaging in retaliatory actions,” Guzman wrote.
“The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has seen Mr. Guzman’s letter and appreciate him bringing his concerns to us,” a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement sent to the Globe on Friday.
“We take these allegations seriously and will work with the receiver to take appropriate next steps. The Department also continues to work closely with Lawrence Public Schools to support its students and staff.”
Deigning to answer--something I don't think we previously saw a lot of--acknowledges that the Lawrence School Committee has legitimacy in representing the city and its students, which is also something we haven't seen much of previously.
Public comment updating as we go
Gerry Mroz on gifted and talented students, asking for goal to be added
Max Page supports the cell phone bill and hope you all do
ew
"is this policy going to support the professional expertise" of teachers should be asked of every question
ICE threat
funds "to address the fiscal crisis in our schools"
Deb McCarthy on assessment, fiscal crisis in every community
"our schools are not safe spaces"
Lisa Lazar, director of Educators for Excellence:
"showing up at school is not easy and it is not safe" for many students now
"teachers are calling for excellence for all students"
"ensure graduation means something"
Ben Tobin: chilling impact on advocacy
up against a multi-million-dollar law firm, not an even fight
Culture of retaliation
NCTQ (which have done the really ridiculous analysis of educator prep programs, seen most recently in Maine)
praising "holding teacher preparation programs accountable"
"unfortunately...not enough"
response to limiting local control: "taking bad options off the table is not the same as constraining choice to a single good option"
what? I don't know what that means
"is and always has been a core responsibility of schools" is their response to an unfunded mandate
yeah, he's not real about how this works
Kariss McLaughlin: or not
Secretary Tutwiler: this year's school counselor of the year
"counselors really shape the heartbeat of a school"
congratulate Henry Wan of the Lexington Public Schools
Governor's State of the Commonwealth, thinks education took center stage
early ed: added nearly 20,000 seats; on track for universal access in Gateway Cities
Commissioner Martinez: visiting schools a highlight
63 schools recognized at the State House
Lawrence receivership: help them go back to a self-governing board
"two different boards...it was a little confusing"
effective January 29, Lauren Woo the receiver; superintendent reports to Woo as receiver
capacity building plan for the school committee
three elected board members, three appointed, plus mayor
designed to get them to work more efficiently
free high dosage literacy tutoring
subcommittees on planning the graduation council's recommendations
Vice Chair Hills asks about the number of schools getting high dosage tutoring
"how many schools could really move the needle?"
Martinez: early in this implementation
"as we heard..." referencing public comment in adoption
"a long term strategy"
minutes adopted
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