District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Board in Brief
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

This is "Board in Brief," issued at the request of Acting Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus to bring you up to date on Board of Education matters. This is a report on the regular meeting held on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at Ferryway School in Malden.

Comments from the Chairman

Chairman Paul Reville provided an update on the search for a new commissioner of education. The chairman said that after November 30, the deadline for candidates to submit applications, the Board will begin the process to screen those applications. The Board will meet in executive session on December 4 to review applications and to select a list of semi-finalists. The Board will interview the semi-finalists in executive session on December 13. Next, the Board will announce a list of 3 or 4 finalists, and will publicly interview those candidates at the Omni Parker House in Boston on January 7. The chairman said that he has invited an advisory group of 20-25 people representing constituency groups, the Legislature, and Department staff to participate in the interviewing of finalists and provide feedback to the Board. The chairman said that the Board hopes to announce the appointment of a new commissioner at or before its regular meeting on January 22, 2008.

Comments from the Acting Commissioner

Acting Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus announced that the Department is pleased that its offices will stay in Malden when the construction of a new building is completed in early 2009. He also noted that several Department staff recently participated in subcommittee meetings of the governor's Readiness Project.

The Acting Commissioner called attention to two important education summits to be held on Friday, November 30, the first a college and career readiness summit presented by the New England Board of Higher Education, and the second an expanded learning time summit convened by the Department and Massachusetts 2020.

Comments from the Public

Five individuals spoke to the Board on topics including MassCore, Metco, and school libraries.

Expanded Learning Time

Chairman Reville acknowledged Malden Mayor Richard Howard, who extended a formal welcome to the Board and echoed the Acting Commissioner's remarks regarding the positive news that the Department's headquarters will remain in the city. Joining Mayor Howard for a panel discussion on expanded learning time (ELT) was Malden Superintendent Sid Smith, Ferryway Principal Thomas DeVito, Salemwood Principal Ronald Eckel, Jennifer Davis and Ben Lummis from Massachusetts 2020, and Sarah McLaughlin from the Department. The panel provided the Board with an overview of the development and growth of the ELT program statewide and at two Malden schools, Ferryway and Salemwood. The ELT initiative, funded this year through a $13 million state appropriation, adds at least 25% more time to school schedules in order to:

• Provide students with more core instructional opportunity in math, literacy, science and other core subjects to support student achievement;
• Integrate enrichment and applied learning opportunities into the school day to motivate and engage students; and
• Provide educators with increased opportunity to plan together and to participate in professional development with other teachers and in collaboration with their partnering community-based organizations.

Currently 18 schools in nine districts, including Malden, are operating redesigned schools with expanded learning time. Chairman Reville commented that the ELT initiative is a great example of effective partnership among the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Massachusetts 2020, school districts, teacher unions, and community organizations.

Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association

At the suggestion of Board member Ruth Kaplan, who holds the seat on the Board designated by law for a parent representative nominated by the Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association, representatives of the Massachusetts PTA made a presentation on the work of the PTA to promote parent involvement in schools and support family and community partnerships. Panelists included Massachusetts PTA President Michelle Tremont, President-Elect Kimberly Hunt, National PTA representative Deborah Walsh, and Margaret O'Hare of the Massachusetts Parent Information and Resource Center.

Report on Fiscally Distressed Districts

Acting Commissioner Nellhaus provided a brief update on the Department's study on fiscally distressed districts. The Acting Commissioner said that he would report back to the Board on this issue at its regular meeting in January.

EQA/EMAC Report on Randolph

Dr. Joseph Rappa, Executive Director of the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA), and Joseph Esposito, a member of the Educational Management Audit Council (EMAC), presented findings from the EQA/EMAC report on Randolph Public Schools. Larry Azer, Chairman of the Randolph School Committee, and Dr. Richard Silverman, Randolph Superintendent of Schools, then addressed the Board. Following an extensive discussion of fiscal and other issues in the community, the Board voted to designate Randolph Public Schools an underperforming district. As a result of the vote, the Department will initiate a review to assess whether Randolph has the capacity to address the problems that have been identified and to implement effectively an improvement plan in partnership with the Department. Acting Commissioner Nellhaus said he expects to report back to the Board on the results of the review in less than 90 days.

MassCore

The Board voted to approve MassCore, the state's recommended high school core program of studies for college- and career-readiness. The recommended MassCore includes: four years of English, four years of mathematics, three years of a lab-based science, three years of history, two years of the same foreign language, one year of an arts program, and five additional "core" courses such as business education, health, and/or technology. MassCore also includes additional learning opportunities such as AP classes, dual enrollment, a senior project, online courses for high school or college credit, and service or work-based learning. Acting Commissioner Nellhaus said the Department would work with high schools and districts to provide assistance as they strengthen their course offerings to meet the needs of their students. Board's FY 2009 Budget Proposal

The Chairman presented the Board's budget proposal for FY 2009 that included some revisions since the last regular meeting. The budget proposal includes an optimal request, funding a number of new initiatives as well as increases to current programs, and a maintenance level request. The Board voted to approve the budget proposal, which will be transmitted to the Administration and the Legislature.

Commissioner's Recommendations on 15 Underperforming Schools

At the October 30th regular meeting, Acting Commissioner Nellhaus presented recommendations on 15 schools that have remained in underperforming status. One of the 15 schools is scheduled to close at the end of this year. Of the remaining 14, the Acting Commissioner recommended that six schools be declared "Priority 1 schools, four schools remain in Commonwealth Priority Schools status, and four schools no longer be identified as Commonwealth Priority Schools.

The Board deferred until next month action on the Acting Commissioner's recommendation that six schools be declared "Priority 1" schools and four schools remain in Commonwealth Priority Schools status.

The Board voted to remove the following four schools from Commonwealth Priority Schools status: Arlington Elementary School (Lawrence), Laurel Lake Elementary School (Fall River), Liberty Elementary School (Springfield), and Washington Elementary School (Springfield). The Board's action is based on the four schools having demonstrated both significant gains in student performance and the conditions needed to sustain quality improvement efforts.

Grants

The Board approved state and federal grants totaling $990,384 under the following programs: Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students ($23,700 - state funds); Workplace Education ($1,500 - state funds); Competitive Academic Support Services Pathways One Stop Career Center Initiative School Year Program ($170,064 - state funds); Competitive Academic Support Services Pathways One Stop Career Center Initiative Summer Program, 2008 ($42,286 - state funds); Adult Basic Education Transition to Community College Program ($50,000 - state funds); Adult Basic Education Distance Learning Program ($294,334 - federal funds); and Massachusetts Reading First Plan (MRFP) Targeted Assistance Grant ($408,500).

Guidelines for the Mathematical Preparation of Elementary Teachers

The Board deferred action on formally approving the Guidelines for the Mathematical Preparation of Elementary Teachers.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden.