CARCIERI JOINS LOCAL OFFICIALS TO CELEBRATE ACCREDITATION OF JOHNSTON HIGH SCHOOL

04-12-2006

Governor Donald L. Carcieri today joined with local elected officials, state officials, teachers, students, and administrators of Johnston High School to celebrate the school’s accreditation by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC).

When NEASC placed Johnston High School on probation last year and threatened to revoke its accreditation, the Governor stepped in and worked closely with state and local officials to ensure that the high school would remain in good standing.

On March 31, the accreditation agency sent formal notice that Johnston High School was being taken off probationary status. The letter to Principal Elizabeth Larkin Mantelli cited the “attitudes and focus” of school officials in “addressing the significant concerns” of NEASC.

“This is a great day for everyone associated with Johnston High School. We worked together in the best interests of the students to get this school on the right track,” Governor Carcieri said. “When there’s a spirit of cooperation throughout the community, great things can happen. Today’s announcement is testimony to that fact.”

“I would like to thank Doctor Elizabeth Mantelli, teachers, students, and families for their outstanding work,” the Governor said. “Your leadership has made a big difference, and I applaud you for your great efforts.”

Revocation of Johnston High School’s accreditation threatened to jeopardize the post-secondary plans of graduating seniors. Colleges often include a school’s accreditation status when considering whether to accept prospective students.

Following the notice by NEASC that the high school would be placed on probationary status, Governor Carcieri met with Senator Joseph M. Polisena of Johnston. The Governor instructed the state Department of Education to work with the high school administration and teachers to develop a plan that addressed the deficiencies raised by NEASC.

In a letter sent August 22, 2005 to Pamela Gray-Bennett, the director of NEASC, Governor Carcieri referred to the “significant progress” in student achievement made by Johnston High School students and pledged the state’s support to make the necessary reforms that would get the school off its probationary status. “I have instructed the Rhode Island Department of Education to work with the school, district, and community representatives to ensure compliance with NEASC standards,” the Governor stated in his letter.

One of those reforms underway is the renovation of the high school’s library and media center. Funding for this renovation was made possible by legislation sponsored by Senator Polisena and signed last year by Governor Carcieri that required non-municipal trucks dumping at the Johnston landfill to pay a tipping fee of $3 per load. This legislation generated $202,749 in the first six months of the tipping fee collection.

Earlier this month, the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation presented a check to the Town of Johnston. The money will be used for the renovations.

Though the high school is off probationary status, NEASC is requiring a special progress report in January to address several outstanding issues, including creating common planning time for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade teachers, implementing more rigorous coursework for all students and the continuing library renovations.

“There’s more work to do,” Governor Carcieri said. “I am asking Commissioner Peter McWalters and his staff to keep providing guidance to Johnston High School so that they can meet these requirements and continue to see success.”

A number of the NEASC recommendations for Johnston High School have been addressed by Governor Carcieri in the education initiatives that he has proposed legislatively and through the Board of Regents. Among the Governor’s initiatives is legislation, scheduled to be heard today by the Senate Education Committee, to increase the school year to 190 days for teachers and administrators to allow for increased planning time. The Governor has also proposed to the Board of Regents the adoption of statewide evaluation standards for teachers and administrators.