Private firm to take over Roosevelt
By Christin Nance Lazerus cnance@post-trib.com August 25, 2011 11:16AM
"I call this a one plus four years contract. The first year is a transition year," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett (right) as he speaks during a press conference at the Tolleston Park pavilion in Gary, Ind. where he announced the Indiana Department of Education's (IDOE) turnaround recommendation for Roosevelt Career and Technical Academy Thursday August 25, 2011. Edison Learning will be recommended to act as Turnaround School Operator. At left is Dale Chu, assistant superintendent for Innovation and Improvement at the IDOE. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: November 4, 2011 9:58AM
GARY — The Indiana Department of Education announced plans for turnaround school operator EdisonLearning to take the reins of Roosevelt Career and Technical Academy.
The recommendation, announced at a Thursday morning news conference, will be voted on Monday by the State Board of Education.
EdisonLearning, based in New York City, will enter into an initial one-year transition contract with the state, and if it meets certain benchmarks, it will get a four-year contract.
EdisonLearning, formerly Edison Schools Inc., is a for-profit educational management company, which has implemented school turnaround efforts at 71 schools across the U.S.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said serious intervention was needed. Roosevelt is one of seven Indiana schools in its sixth year of academic probation under Public Law 221. Bennett announced that four Indianapolis Public Schools would be managed by charter companies, while two others will have lead partners.
He said leaving the school alone or closing it would have been two easy but ineffective solutions.
“No one wants to be in this position, but now it’s time for us to look forward,” Bennett said. “We are finally acting to change the conditions in this school — the students deserve nothing less. Edison Learning is the best opportunity for Roosevelt. Edison has a strong record of success and its leaders have proven that they know how to engage communities, parents, educators and students in the turnaround process — which will be critical to Roosevelt’s success.”
The school will still be under the guidance of the Gary Community School Corp. for the 2011-12 year, as Edison evaluates data, teachers, curriculum, physical space and community involvement before developing a school improvement plan. Starting the 2012-13 school year, Edison and the state will govern the school.
Gary Superintendent Myrtle Campbell said she was informed of the recommendation about 30 minutes prior to the 9 a.m. meeting at Tolleston Park.
“I expressed my concern, and I was hopeful we would be able to maintain Option 5 (revising the school improvement plan),” Campbell said. “But we will be vigilant about working with the team from the state, and we will be actively engaged in data gathering and helping them understand the nature of the community.”
Campbell said the district will contact the state if there are issues that arise with Edison. Roosevelt is starting a New Tech High School for 100 freshmen this fall, but Campbell said that will remain under the auspices of the Gary Community School Corp. As a result, the program, which will expand to each grade level, may have to be housed in a different building starting in 2012-13.
State turnaround director Jim Larson said the transition year will start this fall by engaging the community in a series of forums. The first meeting is set for Sept. 8, but a time and place have not been announced.
Roosevelt was one of 18 schools which had to make improvements in English/language arts and math test scores, attendance, and graduation benchmarks in order to get off probation. Hammond High School, Morton High School, Calumet High School, and East Chicago Central High School were the other Northwest Indiana schools that managed to avoid state intervention.
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, wondered what may happen if Gary’s scores improve significantly by the end of 2011-12 school year.
Bennett admitted that the law does give schools the opportunity for a “blip on the screen” improvement, then lapsing back in old habits.
“I’m fearful of speculating, but we have every intention of giving Edison a contract for the transitional year, then moving forward,” Bennett said.
Bennett said EdisonLearning was chosen for Roosevelt for its experience in urban schools in Chicago and Philadelphia.
Gary Teachers Union President Carlos Tolliver said intervention could have been avoided if the district had been better at communicating with staff and the community.
“We have to communicate with each other and listen to each other’s viewpoints,” Tolliver said. “Otherwise this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m concerned about our children and the culture of this community.”
Comments Click here to view or make a comment