How to close and reopen a Rochester school
Why was School 41 closed?
School 41 closed because it was unable to raise its test scores, as required by the state Education Department. In 2017 fewer than 10 percent of the school’s students passed state math and English assessments.
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After the state ordered the school to close, what were the district’s options?
Close the school and disperse students to other schools in the district. Turn the school over to a receiver. Close the school and reopen it. The district elected to close the school and reopen it under a new name.
When and where will the new school open?
The new school will open in September, in the same building at 279 West Ridge Road that was occupied by School 41.
What will be different?
According to state regulations, the school must have a new principal and at least 51 percent of its teaching staff must be replaced. The district has selected Christine Caluorie-Poles to lead the new school. She worked in the Rochester City School District for 20 years and most recently held a leadership position at the Eugenio Maria De Hostos Charter School.
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The new school will include learning pods, or groups of educators who work together. There will be a science, technology, engineering, art and math theme.
What will happen to the old principal?
Lisa Whitlow, who was principal at School 41, will be moving to School 42.
What will be the name of the new school?
A committee will present three names for consideration to the school board, which will select the name for the new school this summer.
Why does the state expect this new school to succeed when many other new schools in Rochester have failed?
State Education Department spokesman Jonathan Burman said in a statement, “Although there are numerous examples of successful implementation of this process in districts in New York State, we agree that in the past Rochester has had difficulties with its implementation of this strategy. This is why we have made a number of changes to the process that Rochester must follow … Among the changes we have made is to put in place an independent monitor who is assisting the district with plan development and implementation and who reports biweekly to the department on the status … We also provided Rochester with a detailed set of conditions that the district was required to meet to receive approval for its closing and opening plan.”
EBryant@gannett.com