School Board Needs a Plan for Intervene Schools

Four DCPS schools, Raines HS, Ribault HS, Jackson HS and North Shore K-8, are on the state's intervene list.  The state is requiring the district to submit a plan for action should the schools not earn a "C" grade during the 2010-11 academic year.

At a board workshop today, the Superintendent recommended splitting each of the schools into two thematic small schools, with about 500 students in each. Also on the table was a proposal to turn one school (likely Raines) into an all-male school and another (likely Ribault) into an all-female school. The district, to their credit, held two community engagement sessions over the past six weeks or so to review the options with the community.

Specifically, the proposal calls for:

Raines HS to be split into an Information Technology Academy and a Performing/Visual Arts Academy

Ribault HS to be split into a Military Science Academy and an Early College High School

Jackson HS to be split into a Medical Science Academy and an Entrepreneurship Academy

North Shore K-8 to be split into two STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Academies, one K-3 and another 4-8.

Each school would have its own principal and administrative staff, though there would likely be some type of facilities manager at each school to handle joint scheduling of shared spaces (cafeterias, gyms, etc.). While themes and small schools are a first step, extensive work with the faculties at both schools is critical, as is extended time for struggling students. The district expects to detail teaching considerations and costs in another workshop Thursday at 2 p.m.

--Trey