School Board Signs ‘Race to the Top’ in the Nick of Time

March 30, 2011

The Melrose School District is among 256 with signatures supporting the state’s application for federal “Race to the Top” grant funding, which could bring $250 million to participating Bay State schools.

The School Committee voted unanimously last Tuesday to sign the state’s memorandum of understanding, qualifying the district for state grants as well as priority access to programs and services developed by the state. The vote came just one day before the deadline.

In addition to garnering the votes of all six elected school committee members, the memorandum was supported by Superintendent Joseph Casey and the teachers’ union, representing an encouraging partnership early in the year, said Margaret Driscoll, committee chairwoman.

For committee newcomer Jean-Daniel LaRock, his first vote came in an area he has spoken favorably of in the past. He said initiatives to be undertaken by the state if it is awarded funding are closely aligned with the district’s own goals. Developing new assessment methods and more personalized methods of instruction are two examples, he said.

Fifty percent of any funding the state receives will be spread over four years among districts that signed the memorandum of understanding. The size of each school’s portion will be determined by its Title 1 funding. The remaining 50 percent will be used by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support statewide initiatives, and some of that money will be made available to districts in the form of competitive grants.

Among School Committee members last Tuesday, LaRock said there were no concerns voiced about signing the memorandum, si nce districts can withdraw from the program at any time. Once grants are announced in April, member districts have until July to develop implementation plans, at which point withdrawing is also an option.

LaRock called the provision "helpful" in garnering unanimous support for the application but said at this time, the committee is wholly supportive of the program’s mission.

"I consider signing the memorandum of understanding to mean Melrose agrees with the concept," he said. "Personally, I see it as a great opportunity."