State Official Tells City School Board Math Scores Are At The ‘Bottom of All Expectations’
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Dr. Penelope Lattimer, head of the State’s Intervention Team currently in place in the Asbury Park School District, issued several scathing remarks about the district to community members during a meeting with residents last week.
She said all the data indicates that the scoring patterns in the district are “moving in the wrong direction math scores are at the bottom of all expectations.”
In addition she said “The intervention is at such a level of students and staff….it (the district) is at the bottom of what we’re looking at in New Jersey.
Lattimer was at the meeting along with state Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy. Both state officials told the community they must hold the adults in charge of running the district “accountable.”
Responding to questions from several board members in what appeared to be an attempt to somehow hold the state accountable for the ongoing difficulties in the district, Lattimer, had no difficulty putting the responsibility squarely on the people she believes shoulder the responsibility the board of education, the administration and residents.
She said half of Asbury Park’s high school students graduate through the Special Review Assessment (SRA) program, an alternate program for students having difficulty with the regular curriculum. A figure she said was unusually high.
Lattimer also reminded the board that the district was recently cited by the state for three years of low performances on standardized tests.
She also took the opportunity to remind the community that the district is currently paying a “core” of administrators and staff, stressing that the state is only in the district for a limited amount of time.
“We are not the resident team, we are not calling your roll or setting up your paychecks.”
Lattimer told board members they need to begin making decisions that will have “sustainability” and come with “core values that gives life to whatever you are trying to do.”
Lattimer who has been a member of intervention teams in other Abbott Districts, including Camden, said of the Intervention Team, “We know it works when applied accurately.”
Lattimer’s remarks came at the end of an hour-long session, after which Davy, who fielded numerous questions from residents, began taking questions from board members.
“Where’s the panic button?” asked Board Member Adrienne Sanders, who said there are children right now in the district, who may not “recover” academically if the state team does not implement change immediately.
“We can’t wait until everybody gets it together,” said Sanders.
Davy reminded Sanders that the state is only in the district because of poor decision making on the part of the board and administration.
“That’s why we have the Intervention Team here, because of decisions the board made before the Intervention team came. We did see the panic button, that’s why we’re here and that’s why I have been here twice and am committed to coming a third time.”
Along with Sanders several parents asked Davy about school choice, both in and out of district, for their children.
Most parents believed that if the district did not offer a specific program that would benefit their child, the students should be able to attend an out of district program through the No Child Left Behind Act.
Sanders also said that her understanding after reading the DOE website is that districts are “required” to offer parents a choice as to where to send their child.
Davy, said she understood it to mean choice within the district, not outside the district.
Asbury Park currently has a charter elementary school and high school.
Newest Board Member Greg Hopson asked if the Intervention Team had contacted any of the parents who travelled to Trenton in the summer to express concerns about the district, including the move to not rehire the high school football coach.
“The Intervention Team is working with your staff….... and working on parental involvement in the district,” said Davy.
Board Member Geneva Smallwood questioned the commissioner about a luncheon meeting at which retiring teacher Mrs. Wade was invited.
Smallwood’s criticism revolved around the fact that in her opinion substantive issues were not addressed and Wade was not asked to offer her expertise.
“I read the minutes and I could not grasp anything Mrs. Wade was saying,” said Smallwood.
At that time Lattimer took the microphone and told Smallwood that Wade was invited to the luncheon as an honored guest for her 30-plus years of teaching.
“It was an inspirational moment, meant to remind people that there was not always a need for an Intervention Team in Asbury Park,” said Lattimer.
To contact Joanne Papaianni email: joanne@thecoaster.net.
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