Montgomery Public Schools accreditation status changed to ‘under review’
It’s been a tumultuous year for the Montgomery County Board of Education. On Wednesday, they received a report from AdvancEd, a non-partisan organization that accredits the school system, that found the school system “needing improvement” after conducting a special review in late March. The report, conducted by a six-member team of educators, thus resulted in the change the status of Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) from from “accredited” to “accredited under review.” AdvancEd rated MPS in 31 areas within three categories: leadership capacity, learning capacity and resource capacity. The results were reported in four ratings: Needs Improvement: Identifies key areas that need more focused improvement efforts Emerging: Represents areas to enhance and extend current improvement efforts Meets Expectations: Pinpoints quality practices that meet the Standards Exceeds Expectations: Demonstrates noteworthy practices producing clear results that exceed expectations MPS received the lowest possible ranking, ‘needs improvement,’ in an overwhelming 19 areas, ’emerging’ in 11 area and ‘meets expectations’ in only one area. For now MPS has not lost its accreditation. The team presented MPS with six improvement standards that they will return in December to access and track the progress made by MPS. What state officials are saying New State School Board Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said it’s one of the worst reports ever released by AdvancEd. “It is one of the worst reports that AdvancED has ever done, and they cover multiple states throughout the southeast and beyond,” he said. “And so it’s not a good reflection on where we are in our community.” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange encouraged Montgomery residents to vote Tuesday for a more unified school board. “The vote you make Tuesday, in the local board of education, is our future,” commented Strange. View the full report below:
Alabama Education Association files lawsuit to block sale of Georgia Washington Middle School
The Alabama Education Association (AEA) has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) employees aimed at halting the sale of Georgia Washington Middle School to the neighboring Pike Road school system. AEA filed the lawsuit on Friday — against interim State Superintendent Dr. Ed Richardson, Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone and Chief Administrative Officer Reginald Eggleston — claims does not have the legal authority to sell the school and questions whether or not the sale is a conflict of interest for Richardson who was previously involved with Pike Road Schools as executive director of the Pike Road Leadership Council. The lawsuit requests a temporary halt of the sale until the legality of Richardson’s involvement in the sale is resolved. Richardson issued a statement in response to the suit explaining his only concern is the children of Montgomery County. “My concern is now, and has always been, the children of Montgomery County. My resolve is to make sure the students who attend Montgomery Public schools get a quality education. The student achievement in Montgomery’s non-magnet schools are some of the lowest in the state,” said Richardson. He continued, “In more than 50 years of education experience, and having been involved in numerous school interventions all across this state, I have never witnessed this kind of dismal student achievement. It is wrong, deceptive, and dishonest to sit by and continue to watch young people, who are full of potential, graduate from high school with reading and math scores that are unacceptable and don’t even approach Alabama’s average – much less other states. My primary concern is the proper education of children – not inconveniencing adults.” Richardson announced the sale of the school earlier this month during a press conference when an intervention plan of the Montgomery Public School System was released. He said if the school isn’t sold, layoffs will have to be made. “If Georgia Washington is NOT sold, we anticipate approximately 200 MPS teachers and 75 support staff will have to be laid off in order for MPS to meet its financial obligation,” Richardson added. A hearing for the lawsuit will take place Monday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. The plaintiffs are Edwards Simms, a Robert E. Lee High School teacher with a child at Georgia Washington, Chisholm Elementary Child Nutrition Program manager Edwina Relf and Tislam Ellis, a Sidney Lanier High School teacher.
Ed Richardson says major changes are ahead for Montgomery Public Schools
Interim State Superintendent Dr. Ed Richardson says major changes are ahead for Montgomery Public Schools (MPS), else the district might lose its accreditation. It’s a ominous thought, but an assessment he’s made before. Consider the state’s takeover of Birmingham City Schools in 2012 of which Richardson was appointed to oversee. According to Richardson, the Birmingham City Schools and Montgomery Public Schools share similar issues: financial chaos, low test scores, student retention rates, and what Richardson considers improper influence of the board members have all attributed to the system’s possible surrender. Richardson’s current plan of action is similar to the plan he executed to turn the Birmingham City Schools around. Richardson says his plan would keep teachers in their classrooms, and he would advise the sell of vacant properties and possibly consolidation of the system to strengthen financial resources. Birmingham’s board took Richardson’s advice in 2013 and voted to close schools while the district’s accreditation was on the fence. AdvancED, closely monitored the Birmingham City School takeover and will be visiting Montgomery Public Schools later this month per Richardson’s request. “[AdvancED’s] not coming to say you’re in trouble right now,” Richardson said of the visit to Montgomery Public Schools. “He’s coming to identify what the formal review of Montgomery will consist of, which will be the next school year.” Montgomery Public Schools Board of Education submitted their budget to Richardson for approval at the end of December 2017. “I gave them the opportunity, but I’m submitting my own (budget),” said Richardson. Not on the agenda in Richardson’s mind are teacher cuts. “Theirs included cutting (114) teachers and a number of paraprofessionals, which is certainly not compatible with improving instruction. There will be major changes, but I assure you it is my intention that teachers in the classroom will not be affected.” Richardson will be presenting his plan of action to the Montgomery Public Schools Board of Education on January 26.
