Protect the Quality of Georgetown Public Schools
Georgetown School Committee and Superintendent Margo Ferrick
Please sign this petition being presented to the School Committee and Superintendent Margo Ferrick as we urge them to work collaboratively with parents, educators, and community stakeholders to maintain the quality of Georgetown Public Schools following the failure of the Proposition 2 ½ override.
Parents and educators are deeply concerned about plans that are under consideration that could have a dramatic and negative effect on student learning.
Foremost, we must preserve the small class sizes that allow for more individualized attention for students.
Other concerns include:
- The proposed involuntary transfer of 22 educators at Penn Brook. Such teacher “churn” is proven to negatively impact learning and progress, leaving students months behind their grade-level peers who are in classes taught by grade-level veterans.
- The plan to implement substantial new curricula simultaneously with the mass teacher transfers.
- Cutting student-facing positions while adding administrators.
- Laying off high school teaching staff, resulting in a potential loss of such popular electives as Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Advanced Placement Literature, Journalism, and Creative Writing. These staff cuts will also lead to larger class sizes at the high school.
- Cutting the Behavior Coach at the Middle School, as this position has been critical to preventing bullying and providing a safe space for students. The Behavior Coach has been effective at de-escalating situations and addressing the social and emotional needs of students, creating an overall more positive learning environment.
- Lack of collaboration between administration and educators.
Signing the petition will demonstrate support for maintaining staff and services necessary to best meet the needs of all students.
Sponsored by
To:
Georgetown School Committee and Superintendent Margo Ferrick
From:
[Your Name]
We value Georgetown Public Schools and demand that the needs of students guide policies in our schools.
To best meet the needs of students, our school administrators, community members, and educators must work collaboratively. We believe that all stakeholders in the community deserve a voice in shaping the policies that affect student learning.
We want Georgetown Public Schools to protect the small class sizes that have been essential to student success and to prevent harmful disruptions in learning caused by unnecessary staff reassignments.
Administration must work with educators to ensure successful implementation of new curricula.
The district must prioritize student-facing positions, maintain robust course selections at the high school, and ensure that students’ social and emotional needs are being met.
Despite the failure of the Proposition 2 ½ override, Georgetown can still maintain the high quality of its public schools if educators, families and school administrators work collaboratively in the best interest of students.