With five consecutive years of failing in academic performance and a State Board of Education decision looming over its future, Gary’s mayor and educators appealed Wednesday to make changes to how Beveridge Elementary School operates.
School Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt recommended allowing Beveridge Elementary School, 1234 Cleveland St., to become an innovation network school.
The three-year plan outlined for Beveridge would place control of the school at the local level with the Beveridge School Innovation Network Team, principal, Cheryl S. Ramsey said.
The team would customize its program based on best practices, and it would have full operational authority to manage the 550-pupil school with approval of the local and state school boards.
These changes would permit the school to have flexibility to implement practices similar to charter schools, including exemptions for some mandates for a designated period of time.
The plan calls for flexible class enrollment to enable small group instruction, a flexible school day, robust, relevant curriculum, creative budgeting, blending of subjects to increase relevance, incorporation of virtual education, and a waiver of approved restrictions and policies.
Ultimately, the state board’s determination will be based on measured performance and academic growth.
The 2015-16 data is not yet available, but if the school receives another F, it could be designated as a turnaround academy under state intervention. If it moves out of its F status, the state will not have the authority to apply the intervention.
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson talked about the challenges faced in the school district.
“I would suggest you can’t do this in a vacuum,” Freeman-Wilson said. “I am talking about the surrounding community and the challenges. There is a high vacancy rate, a high poverty rate and a high transiency rate among the students. That makes it harder for the students to excel. The good news, the community is not willing to give up. This is an opportunity for Beveridge to hit the reset button in a way to serve students well.”
State Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, attended the hearing and said she has heard the innovation network has had good reviews.
“There’s an opportunity for teachers to have more input and that’s attractive to teachers,” Rogers said after the meeting. “I think that certainly the mayor’s interest in this school can be an asset. She talked about vacant buildings. That might be encouraging for her to designate the buildings for demolition and additional city services. Safety and how (the neighborhood) looks is extremely important.”
About 45 people attended the hearing.
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“We’ve been having dialogues with the state board and with Indianapolis (innovative network) to see what works there, and I feel we can make this transition and do what is best for the students and staff,” Pruitt said.
If the plan is approved, there will be a period of planning and selection of partners, she said.
Proposed strategies for the school include providing a framework for 90-minute reading and 60-minute math blocks; developing instructional calendars; need-based professional development for teachers; infusing international experiences related to China and Africa; and exposures and use code with computer science for all.
“We have worked to improve the culture and climate of the school,” Ramsey said.
Problems addressed include suspensions and student tardiness. Conflict resolution training was provided to older students, and there was an increase in parental involvement.
Ramsey said there has been a decrease in the number of suspensions. The school instituted lunch-hour detentions, and as a result, it saw a 27 percent decrease in morning tardiness.
Beveridge teachers at the hearing also expressed their support for the innovation network during public comment.
The State Board of Education has already approved a transformation zone in the Gary Community School Corp., and according to Glenda Ritz, state superintendent of public instruction, “to put Beveridge in it seems like a natural fit.”
Ramsey sees the innovation network as a way to transform learning at the school.
“Today, the Beveridge staff stands as one to improve student performance,” Ramsey said. “We support the innovation network school. We believe we can be excellent and a role model for other schools. We are looking forward to having the opportunity to restart as an innovation network school.”
Nancy Coltun Webster is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.