The Worcester Telegram Editorial about the state
takeover of Southbridge schools ended by noting, “While the state now has the
power to do what’s necessary in running the schools, it can’t do this alone.
Just as Southbridge’s problems didn’t occur in isolation, neither will its
solutions. It’s up to the entire community, both in the schools and outside the
schools, to collaborate in making this work.”
In thinking about this, I can’t help but recall the
words of Lisa Rousseau, a Southbridge central office worker at the public hearing on making Southbridge a level 5 district. "We need a
huge, huge change in the business office…a lot of our staff have been hired
because of WHO THEY KNOW and not because they're qualified."