Morgan Full Service Community School (Holyoke)

On September 26, 2022, Commissioner Riley exercised his authority under 603 CMR 2.06 (10)(d) to remove the Morgan Full Service Community School in Holyoke from chronically underperforming status on the basis of the district's concurrent designation as chronically underperforming.

• Commissioner's Letter Regarding Morgan Accountability Status, September 26, 2022

On August 2, 2021, Commissioner Riley sent the following letter regarding the turnaround plan for the Morgan Full Service Community School.

• Morgan Turnaround Plan Extension Letter, August 2, 2021

On July 13, 2021, Commissioner Riley removed the label and reference to "Master Teacher" in chronically underperforming school and district turnaround plans and replaced it with "Expert Teacher."

• Removal of terminology from Turnaround Plans, July 13, 2021

On June 30, 2021, Commissioner Riley appointed Anthony Soto as the next receiver for the Morgan Full Service Community School, effective July 1, 2021.

• Anthony Soto appointment letter, June 30, 2021

On July 20, 2020, Commissioner Riley sent the following letter regarding the turnaround plan to the receiver of the school.

• Morgan Turnaround Plan Extension Letter

On June 29, 2019 the Commissioner approved Receiver Zrike's request to modify Appendix A of the Morgan Full Service Community School's turnaround plan.

• Morgan School Renewed Turnaround Plan Appendix A

• Morgan Compensation Approval Letter

On August 18, 2017, Acting Commissioner Jeff Wulfson pursuant to M.G.L. c. 69, § 1J(w) and 603 CMR 2.00, determined that the Morgan Full Service Community School in Holyoke will remain in chronically underperforming status (Level 5), and the turnaround plan will be renewed for three years.

• Morgan School Renewed Turnaround Plan

• Morgan School Renewed Turnaround Plan — Spanish

• Morgan School Renewed Turnaround Plan Letter

• Morgan School Renewed Turnaround Plan Letter — Spanish

On November 29, 2016, Commissioner Chester approved Receiver Zrike's request to modify the Morgan Community School's Turnaround Plan.

• Commissioner's Letter Regarding Modification of Turnaround Plan

• Commissioner's Letter Regarding Modification of Turnaround Plan — Spanish

• Morgan Community School Receivership Letter — Spanish

• Morgan Turnaround Plan Memo

On July 1, 2015, Dr. Stephen Zrike, receiver for the Holyoke Public schools, assumed responsibility for the implementation of the turnaround plan for the Morgan School. Commissioner Chester notified Dr. Zrike of this appointment on June 12, 2015.

• Morgan Community School Receivership Letter

On June 9, 2014, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education heard the appeal made by the Holyoke Teachers Association (HTA) regarding the Morgan Turnaround Plan. The Board voted to accept four of HTA's proposed modifications. Below is the Morgan Full Service Community School Final Chronically Underperforming Turnaround Plan, as modified by the Board.

• Morgan Full Service Community School Final Chronically Underperforming Turnaround Plan as Modified by BESE

• Updated Morgan Financial Information

On May 19, 2014, the Holyoke Teachers Association (HTA) and the Holyoke School Committee filed appeals regarding the Morgan final Chronically Underperforming turnaround plan. On May 30, 2014, Commissioner Chester issued a memo to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), responding to that appeal. The Board will consider the appeal at its meeting on June 9, 2014.

• Holyoke School Committee Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal

• Morgan HTA Chronically Underperforming Appeal Cover Letter

• HTA Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal

• Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal Attachments A–B

• Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal Attachments C–E

• Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal Attachments F–L

• Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal Attachments M–P

• Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal Attachment Q

• Morgan Chronically Underperforming Appeal Attachments R–S

• Commissioner Chester's Memo to BESE

• DESE Memo to the Board from Legal Office (With Exhibits)

On April 18, 2014, Commissioner Chester issued his final Chronically Underperforming Turnaround Plan for Morgan Full Service Community School. Commissioner Chester has also issued a memo identifying which proposed modifications were incorporated into the final plan.

• Final Morgan Full Service Community School Turnaround Plan

• Modifications Memo

The statute (MGL Chapter 69, Section 1J) affords the Superintendent, school committee, and Local Stakeholder Group the opportunity to propose modifications to the preliminary Morgan turnaround plan. The following modifications were proposed by April 7, 2014.

• No modifications were proposed by Superintendent Paez.
• No modifications were proposed by the Holyoke School Committee.

• Modifications Proposed by the Morgan Local Stakeholder Group

On March 7, 2014, Commissioner Chester released the preliminary Chronically Underperforming turnaround plan for Morgan Full Service Community School.

• Morgan Full Service Community School: Preliminary Chronically Underperforming Turnaround Plan, March 7, 2014

• Morgan Full Service Community School: Appendix B Preliminary MAGs, March 7, 2014

On January 29, 2014, Commissioner Chester announced that Project GRAD will serve as receiver and turnaround operator for Morgan Full Service Community School. More information about Project GRAD can be found on their website: Project GRAD.

Additional documents related to Morgan's chronically underperforming status:

• Morgan Full Service Community School Local Stakeholder Group Recommendations

Last Updated: February 21, 2024