Racial Balance 2012-2013

BACKGROUND

In June 2012, the Greenwich Public Schools were cited by the CT State Board of Education for Racial Imbalance in two schools - Hamilton Avenue School (HAS) and New Lebanon School (NLS). As defined by State Statute (10-226e), schools are cited for racial imbalance when the percentage of the minority population in a given school is 25% points more or less than the average for the comparable schools in the District.

Both of these schools have been cited in prior years for racial imbalance and have submitted plans involving the implementation of magnet themes to voluntarily attract families to attend the schools in an attempt to racially balance HAS and NLS. To date, these plans have not yielded the required racial balance and the State is requesting a revised plan.

In June, Commissioner of Education for Connecticut Stefan Pryor's letter cited HAS and NLS as being racially imbalanced and requested a plan to be presented by October 2012. Superintendent of Schools Dr. William S. McKersie worked with the Commissioner to revise the timeline as follows:
* February or March 2013 – Submission of New Action Plan to Commissioner and SBOE
* March or April 2013 – Presentation of New Action Plan to SBOE
* Fall 2013 – Begin Implementation of New Action Plan

The Board of Education has directed the Superintendent to develop options for addressing racial imbalances at HAS and NLS for their review and approval. The Superintendent is continuously updating parent representation, the Board of Education, and the community through public meetings and various electronic means. This web page is intended to provide access to all documents developed and presented with regard to this project, and to keep the public informed of the process, timeline and decisions made.

In Dr. McKersie's October 18th report to the Board of Education (below), he said, "The Greenwich Public Schools (GPS) will seek to raise student achievement and improve racial balance. The State Statute regarding racial imbalance does not address student achievement. Nonetheless, the Greenwich Board of Education and Administration came to consensus in early September 2012 that any and all work by the GPS on racial imbalance should first and foremost seek to raise student achievement."

DOCUMENTS

December 6, 2012   
Racial Imbalance Update Presented to the Board of Education - Answers to Board questions, Update on International Baccalaureate Programmes in GPS Schools, STEM Presentation

November 8, 2012    (November 1, 2012 Report - Nov. 1st meeting canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, presented on Nov. 8th)
Racial Imbalance Update Presented to the Board of Education - Potential Strategies for Addressing Racial Imbalance

October 18, 2012    
Racial Imbalance Update Presented to the Board of Education - Report on discussion with Commissioner Pryor, Additional Data

July 11, 2012          
Data Report on Current Racial Imbalance  - Stats Compiled by the Administration and Submitted to the Board of Education

June 11, 2012         
Letter from Commission Stefan Pryor - Citing Hamilton Avenue and New Lebanon Schools as Racially Imbalanced.