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The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Update on Chronically Underperforming Districts: Receiver Presentations

To:
Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
From:
Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner
Date:
March 15, 2019

At the meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) on March 26, the receivers for the chronically underperforming districts will provide an update on their district's overall academic progress to date. John Connolly, chair of the Lawrence Alliance for Education (LAE) will present on behalf of the Lawrence Public Schools, Stephen Zrike will present on behalf of the Holyoke Public Schools, and Jeffrey Villar will present on behalf of the Southbridge Public Schools. Cynthia Paris, the superintendent for the Lawrence Public Schools, will also be present.

Senior Associate Commissioner Russell Johnston and Lauren Woo, director of the Office of Strategic Transformation, will join the school receivers and Superintendent Paris at the Board meeting.

Lawrence Alliance for Education, Receiver, and Superintendent Cynthia Paris

On February 6, 2018, Acting Commissioner Jeff Wulfson announced the board members of the LAE, the partnership board that serves as the receiver for the Lawrence Public Schools. In the spring of 2018, the LAE, with the Commissioner's approval, selected Cynthia Paris to be the superintendent. The superintendent manages the district on a day-to-day basis and reports to the LAE. The Lawrence Alliance for Education reports to the Commissioner. It meets monthly in open session.

The seven members of the LAE are:

Chairman John Connolly and Superintendent Paris will provide the Board with an update on the implementation of the district's turnaround plan and the LAE's activities to date.

Holyoke Public Schools — Dr. Stephen Zrike, Receiver

Dr. Stephen Zrike has been receiver of the Holyoke Public Schools since his appointment in June 2015. Dr. Zrike will provide an update on the district's overall academic progress to date, including an update on Morgan Full Service Community School, one of the four chronically underperforming schools in the Commonwealth.

Southbridge Public Schools — Dr. Jeffrey Villar, Receiver

Dr. Jeffrey Villar has been receiver of the Southbridge Public Schools since his appointment in February 2018. Dr. Villar will update the Board on the implementation of the district's turnaround plan including his strategic priorities, teacher development, and specific challenge areas.