Peabody super seeks teacher input on reading program

PEABODY – It’s clear that members of the School Committee are beyond dissatisfied with the results of the Tufts reading program, but what about the teachers themselves?To get their opinions, Superintendent Milt Burnett will soon be administering non-biased surveys to each elementary school teacher to find out what they think about the controversial program. Burnett said he hopes the surveys will help the School Committee and administration learn what aspects of the program work, what aspects do not, and why.The city first decided to adopt the new instructional program under the advice and training of consultants from Tufts University in 2005. Since then, third graders overall have seen a dramatic decrease in their MCAS reading scores.Literacy Coordinator Sarah Lacourciere came before the Committee back in October and openly admitted that 2005 was indeed a very difficult year for the students. She couldn’t pinpoint why exactly scores dropped, but rather listed several possible variables, such as an increase in low-income students, students with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency. She also said it may have been most likely due to the lack of resources available to teachers trying to implement the new program.”I’m not a statistical genius, but it doesn’t take one to know we have a problem,” said School Committee member Dave McGeney last week. “This is one area that we are conclusively failing?I know it’s correctable, our students are as bright as ever. We must turn this around. We have no time to lose.”To help move things along, Burnett is currently in the works of coordinating a special community-based committee specifically for analyzing the city’s survey and developing a solution. Burnett said he would like to organize a group of at least 20-30 people, including one teacher from every elementary school and grade level, school principals and specialists. The group is not closed to the general public, said Burnett, who in fact, encourages all interested parties to join. Meetings would be held after school and without compensation.An outside group is doing their own evaluation of the program, which should be ready by this time next year, said Assistant Superintendent Joe Mastrocola.Mayor Michael Bonfanti would also like to set up a special meeting of the School Committee to dig deeper into the MCAS scores.”We need to have a meeting just on this and discuss it at length,” said Bonfanti, who wants to do so before budget season heats up.”I hope the committee can take action before the next school year,” said School Committee member Brandi Carpenter. “I look forward to getting this resolved.”