DESE Board Meeting On Southbridge - December 15, 2015 - VIDEO

On December 15 the Board of Directors of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education held a regularly scheduled meeting in Malden.

On the agenda for that meeting was a discussion of the just released District Review for the Southbridge School District.

As a result of that review, as well as a consideration of prior history, Commissioner Mitchell Chester indicated that the prospect that Southbridge would be moved into level V status remained on the table.

If that were to take place, Southbridge would join Lawrence and Holyoke as Massachusetts communities that the DESE had moved into receivership. 

Following is a video of that meeting as it relates to Southbridge.

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Letter From DESE To Southbridge School Committee

Click link for related article in Worcester Telegram

Southbridge School Committee Meeting - December 28, 2015

Most Massachusetts Communities Ignore Public Records Law

The Massachusetts public records law (MGL Ch 66 §10) provides that the custodian of any such record shall respond to a request for a copy of that record within ten days. It also provides that (in most cases ) such a copy shall cost five dollars for the first six pages and fifty cents for each additional page. If a search is required to provide such a record, the requester shall “pay the actual expense of such search.”

A test co-sponsored by The Boston Globe and WCVB television found that 58% of the cities and towns in Massachusetts failed to comply with the law. 

Southbridge School Committee To Continue Superintendent Search

Ken O'Brien

Despite a request from the Commissioner of the DESE to suspend its Superintendent search pending a decision on receivership for the district, the Southbridge School Committee decided to continue with that endeavor.

Following the roll call, (during which Dr. Page and Mr. Jovan were excused) the Chairman read agenda item number III. Thereafter he went to agenda item IV and the committee voted to go immediately into executive session. It was indicated that this was to consider the legality of any action related to agenda item III, the letter from DESE Commissioner Mitchell Chester.

After approximately 40 minutes the committee, consisting of Mr. Lazo, Mr. Bishop, Ms. Congdon, Mr. Olivo and Ms. Peloquin returned to open session.

AG Rules Southbridge School Committee Did Not Violate Meeting Law

Susan Spencer Teleggram & Gazette Staff

The Southbridge School Committee did not violate the state's Open Meeting Law when it voted to appoint an interim superintendent and a recording secretary in July, the attorney general's office ruled last week.

But Assistant Attorney General Hanne Rush wrote in her letter of Dec. 22 to the School Committee's lawyer, Kimberly Rozak, that because commitee Chairman Scott S. Lazo knew the identity of the sole candidate for each of the two positions, he should have posted their names on the meeting agendas.

Herding Cats

On December 15^th the Board of Directors of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education met in Malden. On their agenda was the issue of the continuing underperformance of the Southbridge school system.

The Worcester Telegram reported, “Deeply troubled about the state of Southbridge public schools, Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester said a recommendation to place the district in Level 5 receivership is not off the table.” 

Emergency School Committee Meeting - December 28, 2015

Southbridge School Committee

Emergency Special Meeting

MacKinnon Council Chambers

December 28, 2015

7 PM

The O'Zone reports that the letter from DESE Commissioner Chester advises the School Committee to suspend the Superintendent search until the receivership issue is resolved.

Addicted To Fear

This has been a bad year for America. We've lost the ability to tune out. We no longer know how to calm down and appreciate what we have. Switch off the wi-fi for a few days, turn off the TV, and it's amazing how much more reasonable the world instantly seems.

Though our economy may not be what it was, we're actually safer and less susceptible to crime or war than at any time in our history. But in the same way retailers want us buying on Christmas, others want us scared to death and addicted to news of threats at home and from abroad. 

Merry Christmas

Sufi Muslims Play Christmas Music

Four Schools To Exit Underperforming Status

The state announced that four schools designated as "underperforming," or Level 4, will exit that status after meeting their turnaround goals. Of the more than three dozen schools that the state designated Level 4 in 2010 and 2011, the majority have exited underperforming status.

"Some of the smartest efforts in the Commonwealth can be found in turnaround schools," said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester. "I'd like to recognize all the educators and families who are providing students with a better future by raising expectations and implementing reforms." 

Track Santa

Abuse Found At Peck School In Hoyoke

The Disability Law Center (DLC) recently released its investigation report on the treatment of children in the Therapeutic Intervention Program (TIP) at the Peck School in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The report shows disturbing findings of “abuse and neglect, improper practices, and unsafe conditions” and that “[t]he District must take immediate corrective measures to prevent further harm to these children.”

The DLC, led by Executive Director Christine Griffin (who also serves as Chair to AAPD’s Board of Directors), is an organization “authorized to investigate incidents of alleged abuse, neglect, and civil rights violations of persons with disabilities within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” 

Bill Belichik - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"