The Bromfield School Improvement Plan—which includes the initial results of a survey of parents, students and the staff—received rave reviews when it was presented to the School Committee Monday by Principal James O’Shea.
Chairman Keith Cheveralls said, “Let me be the first to say that was absolutely outstanding. It was very impressive.” Member Piali De concurred, saying, “You had me whooping and hollering.” The committee voted unanimously to approve the plan, which was the work of the Bromfield School Council’s parents, teachers, community members, and students.
O’Shea’s presentation began with an overview of academic achievements, including Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, which are well above the state and national averages; advanced-placement test scores, which are high enough to make 95 percent of the test-takers eligible for college credit; and National Merit semi-finalists, of whom Harvard has three. He proceeded to outline eight goals for the upcoming academic year, including the implementation of a new health curriculum for sixth grade and beginning preparations for the state accreditation visit in 2012. (The full plan will soon be posted on the Bromfield website, www.psharvard.org/Bromfield, under “School Council Meetings.”)
An aspect of the plan that particularly pleased the committee was Bromfield’s “climate” survey, a measurement of the practices and opinions of parents, students, and staff on various school matters. The staff portion of the survey is still underway, and the analysis of comments from parents and students is continuing.
Among the noteworthy findings to date is that 65 percent of Bromfield parents want health added to the curriculum. About a third of parents report that they have used a tutor, usually on a private basis, for their children. And nearly a quarter of parents report that user fees have led them to discourage their children from taking part in sports or other activities.
Cheveralls, De, and Pat Wenger all expressed dissatisfaction with the Harvard Elementary School Improvement Plan, which was submitted two weeks earlier, for its lack of a similar survey. They asked the new HES School Council, whose seats are currently being filled, to undertake such a survey. Nonetheless, the School Committee approved the elementary school improvement plan as presented.
