Community Corner

Extra ECS Funding Could Translate to Radical Changes

Vernon has been identified by the state as a bottom 30 system, but superintendent vows to make changes.

School system officials have deciphered the fine print associated with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's announcement that Vernon could receive more than $600,000 in additional Educational Cost Sharing funds.

Malloy identified Vernon as a "conditional" district for the School Improvement Grant and those conditions could mean a detailed restructuring program to get the local system out of bottom 30 status.

The bottom 30?

"We are among the 30 lowest performing districts, according to the state," Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway said. "I don't believe it. We have a lot of work to do and a lot of changes, but we're up top the task. It's embarrassing to be labeled a bottom 30 district."

It's ECS entitlement is currently $17,645,165, according to a chart supplied by Malloy's office, and that amount is slated to increase to $18,316,776.

But the school system has essentially been put on notice.

The designation could be worse. Vernon is not in the bottom 25 and at the present, there is no boarding party of pirates from Hartford ready to take over the ship.

"Being in the 26 to 30 ranking does give us some leeway," Conway said. Conway has been reviewing the curriculum and vows that foundational changes are in store for the school system.

The state has outlined four courses of action as part of School Improvement Grant (the extra funding) interventions - the turnaround model, the restart model, the transformation model and school closure.

Conway said if open has to be implemented, she prefers the transformation  model.

Here is a summary:

1. Replace the principal at an underperforming school.
2. Rigorous, transparent, and equitable evaluation systems for teachers and principals that take into account data on student growth.
3. Provide ongoing, high quality, job-embedded professional development.
4. Instructional program that is research-based and vertically aligned.
5. Increase learning time.
6. Provide for family and community engagement.

For increased learning time, Conway said programs like flex scheduling of teachers and Saturday sessions would work.

Here is a summary of the other models:

Turnaround model

1. Replace the principals of underperforming schools.
2. Rehire no more than 50 percent of a staff at underperforming schools.
3. Recruit and retain staff with necessary skills.
4. High quality job-embedded professional development.
5. A new governance structure.
6. Implementing a research-based instructional program.
7. The continuous use of student data.
8. Increasing learning time
9. Social-emotional and community-oriented services and supports.

Restart model

1. Select a restart operator and re-open under a charter.
2. Former students may enroll.
3. Hold Charter School operator accountable for School Improvement Grant requirements.

The final option - school closure- is just that - an underperforming school gets closed.

If the governor's reform program is approved, the town could have to adopt one of the structures.

"What we've been doing is not working, so we have to do something," Conway said.

The school board vowed to study the options before making any major decisions.


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