Springfield Schools: A Shift in Control

In Springfield, big changes are happening in the school system. Eight schools are getting ready to leave the Empowerment Zone and go back to being run by the Springfield School Department. This is a first for the state, and it's a big deal. The schools that are moving are Duggan Academy, Van Sickle Academy, Chestnut Accelerated Middle School, Discovery Poly Tech, and four schools within the High School of Commerce: Aspire Academy, Emergence Academy, and Springfield Honors Academy. These schools have met their achievement goals and are ready for the change. Now, each school is making its own plan. They want to keep some of the freedom they have now but also fit into the bigger goals of the school department. This process is similar to how the Springfield Renaissance School was created years ago. Superintendent Sonia Dinnall is excited about this change. She said, "We look forward to trailblazers and leaders around innovation schools because we know it is the right thing for the students and staff of the eight schools that are coming back to us from the Springfield Empowerment Zone. "The Empowerment Zone was created over a decade ago. It was a compromise to help some of the city's struggling middle schools. The zone includes Springfield Public Schools, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Springfield Education Association, and some business partners. Not all schools are leaving the zone. At least six, including East Forest Middle, Rise Preparatory Academy, and John F. Kennedy Middle, will stay. The process to leave the zone starts with creating a plan. Each school is working on its own plan under a framework set by an initial committee. This process is not easy. It involves multiple public meetings and requires at least two-thirds of the teachers to vote in favor of the plan. Discovery Poly Tech was the first to adopt the plan, with 100% of teachers voting yes. Other schools are close to finishing their plans and are expected to be ready soon after they return from the winter break. Michael Calvanese, who is leading the transition, hopes all plans will be completed by early March. Then, they will go to the School Committee for final approval. The committee will schedule meetings to receive public comment and review the plans before making a decision. Calvanese said the timeline is flexible. They aim to have everything done by April 9. This way, teachers will know what their year will look like next year.