The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Update on Lawrence Public Schools Receivership

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted on November 29, 2011, to designate the Lawrence Public Schools as a Level 5 district, pursuant to the Board's authority under M.G.L. Chapter 69, s. 1K and 603 CMR 2.00. Receiver/Superintendent Jeff Riley, building on the contributions of many stakeholders, developed a district turnaround plan that I approved on May 30, 2012.

At the Board meeting that we held in Lawrence on November 27, 2012, Receiver Riley and others who are involved in the turnaround effort reviewed key strategies in the turnaround plan and reported on progress and ongoing initiatives.

Over the past several months, Receiver Riley and his team have been working diligently on a number of priorities including the school planning initiatives to implement extended learning time for the next school year, a comprehensive review of the district's resources, and the consultation with the unions over terms and conditions of employment mandated by the District Turnaround Plan. Receiver Riley and Chief Redesign Officer Seth Racine will present an update to the Board at our meeting on April 23, 2013.