Key education stakeholders are pursuing the idea of establishing an innovation school in the City of Somerville.

Representatives from the Somerville School Committee, the administration, and the Somerville Teachers Association met recently to map out a plan for exploring the option, which provides educators with a unique opportunity to create in-district or charter-like schools while keeping school funding within the district. The Achievement Gap law, passed in 2010, provides the framework for establishing an Innovation School within a public school district.

“This is a truly collaborative effort involving the Somerville Public Schools and the educators of our city represented by the Somerville Teachers Association,” STA President Jackie Lawrence said. “This is a chance for all of us, educators and administrators, to use our own expertise, experience, and experience from the frontlines, to develop inventive and creative strategies to address the issues facing our students and give them the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.”

The Somerville School Committee endorsed the initial meeting with key stakeholders to come together to explore and examine the issues relating to a new Innovation School.

School Committee Chairman Paul Bockelman, SPS Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi, Assistant Superintendent Vince McKay and Lawrence all attended the initial meeting on Monday, January 23.
Later that week and this week, Lawrence, Pierantozzi and McKay met with faculty and staff from city elementary schools as well as the middle grades. The Innovation School concept will be on the February 8 agenda of the Somerville School Committee.

Innovation Schools offer greater autonomy in a number of areas, providing schools with more control and increased accountability.  This greater autonomy allows educators and other stakeholders to better tailor policy and plans based on the specific needs of the school.

“More local autonomy will help to accelerate and broaden the programs that are already in place for our high-risk students,” Pierantozzi said. “It will also help us formalize innovative approaches and, ultimately, improve student achievement for all students.”

“It is clear that a one-size-fits-all model does not work,” Bockelman said. “This is an opportunity for all of us to work together to get to the heart of the issues facing our students.”

“Our educators work in Somerville because they are truly dedicated to the students in their classrooms and understand the importance of urban education,” McKay said. “This is a chance for these educators to draw on their own expertise and wisdom to make a difference for the students of Somerville.”