2 Lynn schools improve state ratings

LYNN – Connery and Harrington elementary schools have shed the mantle of failure and are no longer considered “underperforming,” according to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.”This is really good,” said Superintendent Catherine Latham. “Both Level 4 schools are exiting, and I’m fairly confident we won’t have any more. This is so positive.”Massachusetts public schools are rated from Level 1 to Level 5, with Level 5 putting a school at risk for state takeover.Latham got the news Wednesday morning when the state released MCAS results and statuses on the 34 schools that were deemed Level 4 in 2010, when the classification system was first established. Latham said of the 34 schools, only 14 have climbed out of the “failing” category.”This was the first chance the schools had to exit and we did it,” she said. “There is one stipulation. The chairman of the School Committee, the mayor and I have to sign a stipulation stating the supports put in the school will remain.”Latham said signing the stipulation wouldn’t be a problem but that it doesn’t get signed until Nov. 1.The supports put into the school included student coaches, a lot of professional development, including individual professional development for teachers and staffers, and district support, Latham said.”We also introduced parent liaisons and a translator into the schools, and a social worker,” she added. “Those things will all stay in place.”Latham said many of the supports given to the Level 4 schools were also afforded the Level 3 schools to help keep them slipping any further academically. The School Department also hired School Works, an outside company, to survey the district’s Level 3 schools and issue a report, similar to what the company does for the state to evaluate Level 4 schools. That way the School Department knows what areas to target to keep any more schools from being deemed underperforming, Latham said.”It helps that we know now what works in Level 4 schools, and we’ll put that all together and keep working on all our schools,” she said.Committee member John Ford called the news fantastic and said it shows that “if you throw enough resources at a school you’ll get one to excel.”It would be nice to throw those same resources at all of the schools in the district but the budget doesn’t quite have room, he added.”The principals deserve a lot of credit,” Ford said. “They really encouraged parent involvement, and it works. A little extended school at home really makes all the difference in the world.”Latham also credited Connery Principal Mary Dill and Harrington Principal Debra Ruggiero along with their staff, students and parents for turning the schools around.Committee member Charlie Gallo also applauded the efforts of the students, parents, teachers and administrators for pulling the schools out of trouble.”Lynn is unique in that it was able to take its Level 4 schools out of Level 4 status,” he said. “Not everyone could do that.”Gallo noted that a number of schools in other cities deemed Level 4 at the same time as Connery and Harrington remain at Level 4.”And some of them are other urban districts,” he said. “It’s another reason that all around the schools should be very proud of themselves.”