Marshall making progress

LYNN – After a difficult 2006-07 school year that featured some very public and violent disciplinary problems, the Marshall Middle School is in the midst of a transformation under new principal Richard Cowdell.In a scheduled briefing of the School Committee Thursday night, Cowdell, along with students and staff members, spoke of a positive change in attitude and atmosphere at the school this year, which he hopes will encourage fifth graders in the city to consider becoming a part of a rejuvenated faculty and student body.Cowdell took over the troubled school last July just as General Electric and city workers were in the process of renovating school grounds and adding a host of new security equipment, including video surveillance both in and out of the building.Since the project’s completion, he has followed the positive momentum created by the improvements, and focused on reviving the atmosphere in the school in an attempt to rid students of fear and re-focus everyone on learning.”When I took over the position I envisioned something different than what I actually found,” he told the committee. “I felt like my time would be split 50 percent on academics and 50 percent on improving the culture. What I found is that I end up spending 90 percent on improving the culture and 10 percent on academics, but that has been very, very valuable because without changing the culture first the pride in academics would not have followed.”One of the things the new principal heard when he took over was that many parents of fifth graders in the district were fearful of sending their children to the Marshall. Cowdell and his staff have made a concerted effort to reduce those fears, and plan to visit some elementary schools with a few sixth graders to discuss what will really go on when they take the step to middle school next year.As a first-hand account, Cowdell introduced sixth grader David Noonan, who attended Aborn Elementary last year, and was admittedly nervous about coming to the Marshall.”I would tell other fifth graders not to be nervous about coming to Marshall because all of the things that you hear are not true,” he said. “I was nervous, I had heard a lot of stories about Marshall being violent, but when I first got there I noticed the nice new grass in the lawn in front of the school, the new mural (painted by students and staff over the summer) and all the classrooms had a fresh coat of paint.”While Cowdell is working to change the attitudes and actions of some of the students, staff members are focused on the academics, and improving MCAS scores so students are more prepared for high school.The school has set up several programs for students having trouble with academics, including a “failure is not an option” program, where students in danger of failing a class meet with teachers to discuss what can be done to improve grades.The school is also experiencing a boost in parent involvement, as recent open houses have drawn over 80 families. New parent workshops have also been a success, where family members learn how they can help their students with their academics after school.”We are looking at safety nets for students that are in danger of failing,” said staff member Eva O’Malley. “It is still in the beginning stages, but so far, it looks like a success.”Aside from a few minor incidents there have been virtually no behavioral issues or circumstances of violence in 2007-08, yet Cowdell was quick to warn the School Committee that there is still a long way to go.”Sometimes when you look ahead it is a little bit overwhelming because you realize that we still have so far to go,” he said. “But what keeps me going is being able to go back and see how far we have come. There is no doubt in my mind that day-to-day, we are making progress.”Superintendent Nicholas Kostan praised Cowdell for his efforts in improving the Marshall, and said he anticipates an update on the Pickering Middle School from new principal Robert Murphy at a future meet