District/School Administration Administration
The Massachusetts Board of Education

Gill-Montague Regional School District Turn-Around Plan

Background

In January 2007, the Board determined that the Gill-Montague Regional School District was underperforming and in need of formal state intervention. As a result of this determination, the Department assigned a three-member team of independent evaluators to examine the district's leadership capacity and governance practices. The Team visited the district in October 2007 and engaged district and community leaders, parents and teachers in interviews and focus group discussions. The resulting District Leadership Evaluation report was reviewed by Board members at the November 2007 Board meeting. The Board directed Gill-Montague district leaders to use the findings contained in the report to guide the development of a district Turn-Around Plan.

The Turn-Around Plan submitted by an underperforming district is subject to Board review and approval. Gill-Montague district officials were given until January 30, 2008 to submit a proposed Turn-Around Plan for Board consideration. The applicable Board regulations, at 603 CMR 2.04 (4) (b) (1), provide that "the Board, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner, may accept, reject or require modification of the district's plan."

A copy of the district's proposed Turn Around Plan for the Gill Montague Regional School District is included in this month's Board book. The proposed Plan sets out a number of areas in which district and town leaders have begun to advance: developing a process and a plan for consolidating elementary schools, joining the GIC health insurance plan, exploring the possibilities of collaborative regional fiscal planning, and developing initiatives to address some of the educational deficiencies noted in the EQA report.

At the March meeting Board members will have an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the proposed Turn-Around Plan for the Gill-Montague Regional School District. At the April 2008 Board meeting I will ask the Board to vote to accept the Plan, with any modifications that we may direct District officials to make after discussion of the Plan at this month's meeting.

Gill-Montague's Interim Superintendent, Kenneth Rocke, will attend the March Board meeting and provide an overview of the district's proposed Turn-Around Plan. He will share his views on the priority needs facing the district and its schools and will respond to any questions Board members may have. Associate Commissioners Lynda Foisy and Juliane Dow will join us at the table to respond to any questions Board members may have regarding the Department's capacity to provide the assistance and support requested by the Gill-Montague Regional School District.

Attachment:   Proposed District Turn-Around Plan