Six days…mark your calendars!
Tuesday, January 8, at 6 p.m.
Dear Fellow Brockton Colleagues and Community Stakeholders:
In March 2018, the cities of Brockton and Worcester hosted “A Tale of Two Cities,” highlighting the critical need for equity in education funding, followed by “A Tale of Four Cities” in October 2018, where we were joined by the communities of Springfield and Holyoke.
I know you care greatly about your children, the education they receive, and the job market and economy that awaits them in the coming years. It has become evident to parents, teachers, superintendents, school committees and lawmakers that the educational model we are currently using is in desperate need of an overhaul. The way we teach, and the ways students learn will have a significant impact on our economy moving forward. Right now, that formula is broken and needs to be overhauled to meet those needs.
We must find ways to expand access to educational opportunities for all our students, teach viable work-related skills, and most importantly, ensure we include students in the bottom of the income bracket. Our local and statewide economy is dependent on all of us to ensure all students have the skill set for today’s workplace.
To that end, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) is sponsoring community forums on Tuesday, January 8, at 6 p.m. in three locations: Fitchburg State University, Malden High School and New Bedford High School.
Local and state educational leaders will discuss the gravity of the situation and propose solutions. These forums will focus attention on this critical issue and instigate the changes needed to ensure all students, regardless of ZIP code or income level, have equal access to educational opportunities.
I strongly encourage you to attend one of these upcoming forums. The Brockton team will be offering support alongside other school districts at the Malden High School location. I ask that you join us as we highlight the problems, challenges and issues facing our public schools.
To learn more go to the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents website.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Smith, JD
Superintendent of Schools