The ratio was 10-to-4.Fort Wayne Community Schools officials have proposed changes to 10 schools that could include replacing principals and the teaching staff in an effort to secure millions of dollars in federal funds.
The announced plan is an opening round of overhaul targeting student improvement, but the district's remaining 43 schools will follow, Superintendent Wendy Robinson said Monday afternoon.
"Nobody gets the chance to say, 'Not us,' " Robinson said.
The initial 10 schools are North Side and South Side high schools; Kekionga, Miami and Northwood middle schools; and Abbett, Adams, Bloomingdale, Fairfield and South Wayne elementary schools.
The staffs from each of those buildings were being told about the plans during meetings Monday afternoon.
"They're schools where we don't want to wait until they fail," Robinson said.
FWCS officials are tying their plans to the state's application for President Obama's Race to the Top competition, which will make $4.3 billion available for schools willing to take a serious look at improving schools and tie teacher evaluations to student achievement.
Indiana stands to win $150 million to $250 million that it can dole out to school districts that sign up.
But the promise of money that could assist the district in a time of a decreased budget and possibly more cuts to come is only half the reason FWCS officials are seeking the change, Robinson said. The other half is to improve student achievement.
FWCS administrators and the Fort Wayne Education Association, the teachers' union, will begin bargaining a contract that will include these changes in January. The initial 10 schools will see changes for the 2010-11 school year, and the remaining schools in the district will be overhauled for the 2011-12 school year.
The 10 schools will fall into one of three categories that officials have not yet assigned:
- Turnaround schools. Sanctions include replacing the principal and replacing the staff. Staff members can reapply for their jobs but only half will be allowed to remain at the same school.
- Transformation schools. Sanctions include replacing long-time principals. New principals could get reprieves, FWCS spokeswoman Krista Stockman said. Staff members who have not improved student outcomes also will be removed.
- FWCS Target Schools. The fate of the principal will be determined based on multiple data sources. The staff will remain, but will be required to undergo extra training.
