LAWRENCE — A city school, the Oliver Middle School, has risen from “underperforming” status with the state — a welcome victory for public school leadership.
The LPS district as a whole remains in receivership due to underperformance. The Oliver elementary and middle schools were also specifically cited by the state as underperforming schools.
Russell Johnston, acting state Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, notified LPS officials this week about the change in Oliver Middle School’s status.
Johnston said “based on considerable and sustained performance gains” the middle school “will exit underperforming status.”
“Since being designated as underperforming, the leaders, teachers, and students at Oliver Middle School have implemented a strategic and focused turnaround plan to put the conditions in place that have resulted in substantial academic progress … I commend the contributions and hard work of the school community, and share in your celebration of this milestone,” Johnston wrote.
LPS Superintendent Ralph Carrero echoed Johnston in congratulating Oliver Middle Principal Jessica Deimel, her entire school team, and Oliver Middle students and families for their efforts.
“Everyone should be incredibly proud of the path Oliver Middle is on. We know how much hard work still lies ahead as both a school and a district, and today’s announcement is just further proof that our educators, families and children are up to it,” Carrero said.
LPS as a district has been in receivership since 2012 with the Lawrence Alliance for Education as its oversight board.
“The Oliver’s success, and this recognition of it by the Acting Commissioner, are great news,” said LAE Chairman Patricia Mariano.
“But as someone who has spent a lifetime serving Lawrence Public Schools, it is no surprise. Our students, teachers and staff are capable of incredible things, and I’m excited to see more continued progress across the district,” said Mariano, who is retired principal of the Leahy School.
Oliver Middle School serves approximately 350 students in grades 6-8, and was placed in underperforming status by DESE in 2012.
Underperforming school designation is based on multi-year trends in achievement and growth; criteria for exiting include achieving academic and other progress defined by the commissioner, and having the capacity to continue that progress without the assistance provided to schools based on the underperforming designation, according to state criteria.
Oliver Middle and all LPS schools will continue to operate under a district Turnaround Plan currently in place through state receivership and administered by the LAE, officials said.
Receivership remains a top issue in the city and was the backdrop during numerous City Council plans during the past month of October.
Mayor Brian DePena sent councilors a proposal for a home rule petition that would allow School Committee members to be appointed instead of just elected.
Wednesday night, after five special meetings on the subject and opposition from Lawrence teachers, parents and community members, City Councilors approved a water-down version of the proposal.
A majority of councilors voted to allow three members to be appointed, three to be elected at-large and the mayor to serve as a voting member on the School Committee.
School Committee members in the city are currently elected with the mayor serving as chairman.
While approved by the City Council, the matter still requires approval at the state level.
Following Wednesday’s special meeting, members of the Lawrence Teachers’ Union slammed councilors, calling the home rule petition a “power grab” by DePena.
The LTU said the change in the makeup of the School Committee completely shifts “the way Lawrence Public Schools are governed and stripping the democratic rights away from residents across the City.”
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.
