The
state issued the result of its review of the Southbridge School District
today. The report is based upon
interviews conducted by personnel from DESE’s Center for District and School
Accountability from October
19th to October 22nd .
The release comes a day before the district is scheduled to host a visit from DESE Commissioner Mitchell Chester.
The release comes a day before the district is scheduled to host a visit from DESE Commissioner Mitchell Chester.
Below is the Executive Summary of the report (excluding
the district profile and a description
of the review process) .
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Leadership
and Governance
Leadership in the Southbridge Public Schools is
currently in a state of disarray. Since 2010, the district has been unable to
sustain consistent leadership at any level. The constant change in district and
school leadership is symptomatic of the discord that has taken place on the
school committee, which has not adhered to its appropriate roles and
responsibilities. The school committee has involved itself in the operations of
the school district in order to advance personal interest, and interviewees
told the review team that the school committee recently exerted its influence
into the personnel matters of the district and misappropriated district funds.
