DOES THE HEALEY SCHOOL STRUCTURE NEED TO CHANGE?
School Committee Presentation by Principal Mike Sabin (April 5, 2010)
PART I: THE NEED FOR CHANGE
Question: Given that Healey School seems to be improving in terms of school climate, and shows promising signs in the areas of curriculum and instruction, is change urgent?
• YES – STUDENT ISOLATION: “Neighborhood Program” student are isolated in a single strand that remains together as a classroom group for seven years (K-6). This isolation of primarily low income students hurts students emotionally and academically.
• YES – DISTRACTION FROM LEARNING: Healey faculty and parents continue to struggle with internal divisions, competition over resources, and difficulty in moving forward together. These issues distract adults from improving their craft and focusing on student learning. This structure divides teachers and parents and takes the focus off of learning.
• YES – CHOICE PROGRAM LIMITATIONS: Implementation of the Choice Program philosophy has been stunted by divisions in the school and by the difficulty of focusing on program development. Project based learning is inconsistent, and student outcomes are mixed. The structure hurts students and frustrates families and teachers.
In short, the status quo hurts students, divides and distracts adults, and is unacceptable.
PART II: POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES*
MULTIPLE PROGRAM OPTION: Continue to strengthen and balance all programs within the existing school structure. Balancing programs requires equalizing the number of classrooms in the two programs, developing a magnet identity for the “Neighborhood Program, and developing more consistency within the Choice Program.
ONE SCHOOL OPTION: Merge programs into a unified Healey School that maintains and strengthens key elements of the existing programs: project based learning, parent involvement, high academic standards, community connections, university partnerships.
TWO SCHOOL OPTION: Move Choice to a different building and expand the remaining programs to fill the Healey School. Develop strong school identities and school cultures in two different locations.
*NOTE: All program options have significant potential financial costs, and all have significant benefits to students, families, and teachers. All represent a significant change in school structures and school identity. None of the options, including the multiple program option, mean maintaining the status quo. The status quo hurts students and is unacceptable.