Supt. Hart: EHS’ Decennial Accreditation a direct reflection on teachers and administrators

By Neil Zolot

EVERETT – Everett High School has received its Decennial (10-year) Accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Public Schools, as of March 4. “It’s difficult for students to attend college from a High School without an accreditation, so it’s great to get this,” Principal Dennis Lynch said at the School Committee meeting on Monday, May 20 in the school library. “Participation is voluntary and you’re being judged by an outside agency other than the state. They came to the conclusion we’re moving in the right direction.”

Everett Schools Superintendent William Hart called the results “phenomenal” and “a direct reflection on the people that make this building a strong place to learn.”

EHS met five of six Foundational Elements for Accreditation. “The Commission was impressed with the progress made on Priority Areas for Growth,” reads the letter of accreditation received on April 16. They commend the planned rollout of a vision of the graduate; positive and supportive relationships between and among administration counselors, students and the faculty; support provided to students from dedicated, licensed clinicians; the clean, orderly and well-maintained building; prompt and comprehensive action steps taken to improve safety and security; resourceful use of space in a school designed for 1,800 students and serving over 2,300; development and revision of curriculum to meet the needs of all learners; professional develop opportunities and stipends afforded to educators; the focus on establishing partnerships with organizations, colleges and universities; the focus on a positive school culture and relationship-building with the implementation of student success coaches and a student engagement coordinator, and the common curriculum template and the work of all departments to aid the coordination and editing of curriculum development.

Lynch said the vision of a graduate is “what we feel our students need to move forward after graduation,” and various elements of positive relationships between staff and students indicate the staff “honestly cares about the kids in front of them.”

“We provide students with a curriculum they’ll need to succeed beyond High School,” Hart added.

Safety and cleanliness have been an issue. “They were beyond impressed with how clean and orderly the building is,” Lynch said of NEASC’s staff, which visited the building in October to sit in on classes, among other things. “Concerns have been accommodated. When I came into this building as principal that was my top priority. It still is. When people walk into the building, they feel welcome and safe. Without that, nothing else works.”

Ward 1 School Committee member Margaret Cornelio expressed concerns about space and an eventual point of no return, although student populations rise and fall. It is a crowded building with 2,304 students and a staff of over 280.

“We have to double up on space,” Lynch answered. “It’s tough but we do what we have to. My job is to make sure teachers have space to teach and students have space to learn. NEASC was impressed with how we use nontraditional space as classroom space.”

The one area EHS was found to not meet standards is “a written curriculum in a consistent format for all courses in all departments across the school.”

“NEASC will tell you very few schools hit that marker,” Lynch reported. “It’s a goal we’re striving for and the curriculum doesn’t have to change.”

The last accreditation dates from 2011. The planned 10-year interval was delayed due to the pandemic. NEASC is requesting a First Report on Progress and Planning by February 1 and a Three-Year Report on February 1, 2027. Other steps will culminate in a new accreditation in 2033.

In other items, the members recognized the recent award-winning participation of the EHS STEM Club at a recent competition in North Carolina. They finished first in graphic design and second in robotics.

Ward 4 School Committee member Robin Babcock, who is under investigation for alleged misconduct, was absent as were Vice Chairperson Samantha Lambert, Ward 6 member Joseph D’Onofrio and Mayor Carlo DeMaria. Nevertheless, a quorum was achieved with six members present. Neither Hart or Ward 3 member and Chairperson Jeanne Cristiano would comment on the investigation.

In other news, High School permanent substitute teacher Barry Norman has been placed on paid leave following the publication of a book that is felt to be disrespectful of students.