When the new schools were planned, it was extremely important to the Building the Future committee that all students, regardless of where they lived in Medford, attend a school with excellent and equitable facilities. Curriculum in every school is aligned with state standards. Class sizes throughout the district are good and our schools reflect the diversity of our city. Educational materials and financial resources are allocated in a fair and equitable manner and teachers throughout the district meet highly qualified license certifications. Department heads work with all schools, often by grade level, to insure that educational needs are being met. In these ways, we work to insure that all students in Medford are accessing a solid educational program, which is consistent between schools.
Administrative style, teaching style, and the school community, work to create differentiation between schools. In addition, special events and specialized programs help to define school identity. I think the goal for all our schools is to learn from each other. If a program is successful at one school, we should encourage other schools to try it. Sometimes, programs might be piloted at one school with the goal of expanding the program to the other schools. For example, the Peace Games, sponsored by the citywide PTO and Tufts University, will be expanded to all elementary and middle schools this year. The school committee can not mandate that each school develop a distinct personality, however, through administration, we must work to ensure that each school can pursue areas of interest and undertake initiatives which meet the needs of the school population.
Perception is a difficult thing. At all our schools, we have hard-working PTO’s who work to supplement the resources available to the students. Parents and community members provide us with important information. It is an ongoing process to insure that every school is meeting the needs of their community.
