Schools Set for Year of Change ; Superintendent Says System’s ‘Revival’ is About to Commence

By FRED HANSON

BACK TO SCHOOL – RANDOLPH

The groundwork was laid during the summer, with the hiring of new staff members and the revision of curriculums. And when classes begin on Tuesday, the work on the transformation of the Randolph schools will begin in earnest.

“We are celebrating the beginning of the revival of the Randolph Public Schools,” School Superintendent Richard Silverman told teachers and other staff members during a pre-opening meeting on Wednesday.

“We have a mission to change education in Randolph,” he said.

With the money from a $5.5 million Proposition 21/2 override approved by voters in the April 1 town election, 60 new staff members have been hired, most for new or restored positions.

In the elementary schools, librarians, reading teachers, special- education coordinators and literacy coaches have been added. Every day, students will have a class in either music, art or physical education.

A librarian has also been restored at Randolph Community Middle School, and world language classes have been restored.

At the high school, Silverman said, enough classes have been restored to eliminate study halls, a statement that was met with applause from the teachers.

Among the restored classes are advanced-placement and high-level classes; French classes have also been brought back.

Fees for students to play sports, join clubs and participate in other extracurricular activities have been dropped.

“We’ve already seen participation jump,” Silverman said.

District-wide, there are new curriculum coordinators who worked with task forces during the summer to standardize what is taught in the various classes and bring it in line with state standards.

Silverman said the work done on the new curriculums extends all the way to daily lesson plans.

“All of that is to help us improve the performance of our students,” the superintendent said.

During the last school year, the state Board of Education designated the school district “underperforming” and the high school’s accreditation was placed on probation. A “turnaround plan” for the district was developed and approved by the state board in June.

Silverman described the newly hired staff members as “excited, enthusiastic and qualified. It’s the most diverse staff we’ve had in a long time.”

Joan Connolly, a retired school superintendent who helped Randolph officials develop the plan, said teachers play a crucial role in this process.

“The turnaround plan will take place in one place – your classroom,” she said.

Mitchell Chester, the state commissioner of elementary and secondary education, pledged his support for the school system’s improvements.

“It’s going to take a community to get this done,” Chester said.

The staff also heard a presentation from Karen Mapp of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, who talked about the importance of a strong connection between school and home. She said that connection is the difference between good and great school systems.

“See your parents as having different roles but being equal partners in the relationship,” Mapp said.

Two elementary school principals are among the system’s new administrators: Helen Deranian of the Young School and Cindy Sypher of the Lyons School.

Students in grades 1 through 9 return to school on Tuesday. Wednesday is the first day for grades 10, 11 and 12, and pre- kindergarten and kindergarten students start on Sept. 8.

Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.

Originally published by By FRED HANSON, The Patriot Ledger.

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