The 80-page report on Derby High School from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges can be interpreted in a million ways.
It comments on everything from funding to the fact some student records are not kept in fire-proof file cabinets.
At a school board meeting earlier this month, school officials pointed to the document’s repeated claims that schools are under-funded. Click here to read the response from the Mayor’s Office.
What’s the top administrator at the high school have to say about the report?
Principal Fran Thompson said the report shows the high school on stable footing after several years of changing leaders — and that the school is poised to start performing better in terms of academics.
The report on Derby High School will play a role in whether the high school’s accreditation will continue. Thompson said he expects the accreditation to be approved again.
The report was compiled through a self-study by high school officials, along with a visit by 15 educators from throughout New England who interviewed parents, faculty and others.
Among the commendations the report bestows on Derby High School:
- There is a strong sense of school traditions and how they link to the larger community
- Parents feel welcomed at the school
- There is a positive learning environment
- There is an improved school climate
- The parent teacher organization (PTO) reflects a small, but dedicated group
“Now is the time to start raising the bar academically,” Thompson told the school board last week. “And there’s a lot of work to be done, as the report reflects. But you can’t really do anything in an educational institution until the kids feel safe and supported.”
“We feel like the climate is ready for us to take the next step,” Thompson said. “This report is a blue print showing us how to get there.”
Superintendent Stephen Tracy said the report repeatedly has good things to say about Thompson and the faculty at Derby High School.
The report’s constructive criticism of the high school wasn’t a surprise to school officials.
Even the parts critical of the district’s funding didn’t come as a surprise.
“I’ve been through three of years,” said school board chairman Kenneth Marcucio, Sr., a retired athletic director. “It’s 40 years later and it still says the same thing.”
They knew they would take hits on the fact the library doesn’t have anyone at the district in charge of curriculum coordination. The school can’t afford the position.
In addition, there are no certified library specialists at the high school. The school can’t afford them.
The school’s technology infrastructure is also in bad shape. Again, the school can’t afford certain upgrades.
The report also acknowledges that 42-year-old Derby High School is showing its age. The report states that the average school district spends $5 per square foot on maintenance. At Derby High School — 80 cents per square foot.
The report mentions repeatedly a lack of textbooks at the high school.
Thompson said that was an issue when the authors visited in September — but has since been resolved.
The report, a copy of which is available online here and is posted below, also delves into how Derby has changed since the last NEASC report, issued in 2001.
Example — the high school was 80 percent white in 2001. Today minorities make up 30 percent of the school’s population.
The report questions whether Derby leaders acknowledge the shifting demographics in the school.
