Huizenga Reshapes Central Office

Ms. Huizenga

New Southbridge schools management team bears state receiver's imprint

By Brian Lee

A leadership team with restructured roles has been named for the school district whose woeful retention of administrators - 35 transitions involving 43 people in nine central office jobs in recent years - led to the district being taken over by the state in January.

Despite the district of approximately 2,200 students being 45 percent Hispanic, it did not even have a director of English Language Learners earlier this year.

But it does now, and then some.

Jessica L. Huizenga, the state-appointed receiver for the Level 5 chronically underperforming schools, said William Marinell was appointed chief of learning & innovation, formerly known as assistant superintendent. 

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According to The Worcester Telegram, Superintendent of Schools Sheryl Stanton observed, “With the [restructure] proposal defeated, … more money will be needed in the budget to fill gaps the district has with instructional coaching for staff, positions it needs for English Language Learners, to develop a discipline program and support for students, and to create positions around truancy and attendance problems.
She said the team would have to go back to the drawing board to reassess goals as a committee and district.”