Several Buffalo Public Schools, designated as Persistently Lowest Achieving (PLA), are making changes to fit State Department of Education guidelines that will net each school $2 million per year over 3 years in an effort to make each more successful and better serve its students.
At the April 13th board meeting, Superintendent Dr. James A. Williams and his staff presented the Buffalo Board of Education with their proposals of three types of transformations, as required by the State DOE. The board agreed to the proposed changes (below), which will be submitted to the State Education Department for approval by May 2nd.
Transformation School:
School # 59 Charles R. Drew Science Magnet Museum Site is a transformation school and will include the following elements:
• Grade configuration: 3-8
• Assign SAM.
• Strengthen the partnership with the museum.
• Focus on scientific literacy, writing in different genres and in different content areas, science highlighted.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school as defined by the legal agreement between the district and the EMO.
Turnaround Schools:
#301 Burgard High School changed from a transformation model to a turnaround model high school and includes the following elements:
• Burgard Career and Technical Institute
• Grade configuration: 9-12
• Replace the principal (New principal hired in November, 2010).
• New AP assigned in September, 2010.
• School Administration Manager assigned in November, 2010.
• Replace at least 50% of the staff.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school as defined by the legal agreement between the district and the EMO.
#307 East High School is a turnaround model high school, a new model school, and includes the following elements:
• Grade configuration: An all male high academy beginning in the 2011-2012 school year with grade 9, and eventually expanding to grades 7-12. Need to discuss phase in process.
• All male academic high school, modeled after Urban Prep in Chicago.
• Replace the principal.
• Replace at least 50% of the staff.
• Assign a School Administration Manager.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school as defined by the legal agreement between the district and the EMO.
#204 Lafayette High School is changed from a transformation model to a turnaround model high school and includes the following elements:
• It will become the International School at Lafayette.
• An educational management company will be used to implement the turnaround model for this school.
• Grade configuration: change to grades 7-12 (7th and 8th grade from 45)
• Will include bilingual, SIFE and ESL and district newcomer center 7-12.
• Replace principal.
• Staff will be screened and hired by the EMO.
• Assign a School Administration Manager.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school as defined by the legal agreement between the district and the EMO.
# 205 Riverside High School is changed from a transformation model to a turnaround model high school, and includes the following elements:
• Grade configuration: 9-12
• Career Academy Model (Partnerships with Medaille College and Blue Cross-Blue Shield)
• Replace principal (new principal hired in November, 2010).
• New APs assigned in September, 2010 and February, 2011.
• School Administration Manager assigned in November, 2010.
• Replace at least 50% of the staff.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school including uniforms, behavior, attendance and a commitment to excellence.
School #6 BEST is a turnaround model school using a new model that includes the following elements:
• Grade configuration: PK-8
• Elementary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Focus
• NASA partnership with the Harris Foundation
• Summer Bridge Program—Into the world of science
• Replace principal.
• Replace at least 50 % of the staff.
• Assign a School Administration Manager.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school including uniforms, behavior, attendance and a commitment to excellence.
#33 Bilingual Center is a turnaround model school using a new model that includes the following elements:
• Grade configuration: PK-8
• Transitional Bilingual Program
• Replace principal.
• Replace at least 50 % of the staff.
• Native language arts/ESL coach
• Assign a School Administration Manager.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school including uniforms, behavior, attendance and a commitment to excellence.
#95 Waterfront is a turnaround model school, a new model school that includes the following elements:
• Grade configuration: PK-8
• International Baccalaureate school
• Focus on English as a Second Language instruction and on French language instruction.
• Replace principal.
• Replace at least 50 % of the staff.
• Assign a School Administration Manager.
• Change open classroom concept
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school including uniforms, behavior, attendance and a commitment to excellence.
Close/Restart:
Close
#37 Futures Academy. Restart it under an Educational Partnership Organization as an all girl prep school and include the following elements:
• Grade configuration: PK-8
• Replace the principal.
• Replace entire staff.
• Assign a School Administration Manager.
• All students and parents must adhere to the conditions for attending the new school including uniforms, behavior, attendance and a commitment to excellence.
