New Haven Independent

That was the assessment of Assistant Superintendent Garth Harries (pictured), who spoke before the school board on Monday. He announced the final lineups for three school reform committees that will become a source of plans and ideas as New Haven’s budding school reform movement develops.

As he took the podium to provide an update on the school district’s reform efforts, Harries began by mentioning that “President Obama did call out New Haven” at an event in Wisconsin last week.

Obama’s remarks are a recognition of “the excitement around our continued reform efforts,” Harries said. Notice from the president “raises the stakes” and “raises expectations,” he said.

The central focus now of reform efforts is in “putting together our infrastructure for planning,” Harries said. Part of this is the formation of several important “reform working groups.”

The first of these is the Reform Committee, charged with providing “input on overall reform, with primary responsibility for recommending student performance metrics.”

This committee, which has met twice already, comprises three administrators, three teachers, and two parents. The panel will be “focusing on the question of student performance,” including “beginning to define what we mean by student performance,” Harries said.

The second newly formed group is the Teacher Evaluation Committee. Its membership was finalized on Monday. This committee will be looking at “how we evaluate teachers,” Harries said. The committee will be discussing the implementation of evaluation measures written into the recently passed teacher contract, including ratings, peer reviews, and the use of student performance to measure teacher performance.

The third panel is the Survey Committee, which will be develop “school climate surveys” to be released this year. Its membership was also finalized on Monday. The climate surveys will target teachers, parents, and students in an attempt to take the pulse of the individual schools in New Haven.

Obtaining “diverse perspectives” has been the “guiding principle in putting together these working committees,” Harries said.

“Expectations are high,” he reiterated.

The findings of the committees “will come before you as they are ripe,” he told the board.

“Have you considered putting students on any of these committees?” asked board member Michael Nast.

Harries replied that student input is needed in the reform effort and that the district is still working to see what is the most appropriate way to make that happen.

After the Board of Education meeting, Harries said that the regular meetings of the three committees he mentioned will not be open to the public. “We want to encourage those committees to have frank, honest dialogue,” he said.

Members of the public will be able to hear findings and provide input on committee work at Board of Education meetings and other public forums, Harries said.

Some previous stories about New Haven’s school reform drive:

• Parents Challenged To Join Reform Drive
• Where Do Bad Teachers Go?
• Mayo Extends Olive Branch
• School Board Makes Mom Cry
• Next Term Will Determine Mayor’s Legacy
• Reading Target Set: 90% By February
• Teacher Pact Applauded; Will $$ Follow?
• Mayor “Not Scared” By $100M
• Useful Applause: Duncan, AFT Praise City
• Reformer Moves Inside
• After Teacher Vote, Mayo Seeks “Grand Slam”
• Will Teacher Contract Bring D.C. Reward?
• What About The Parents?
• Teachers, City Reach Tentative Pact
• Philanthropists Join School Reform Drive
• Wanted: Great Teachers
• “Class of 2026” Gets Started
• Principal Keeps School On The Move
• With National Push, Reform Talks Advance
• Nice New School! Now Do Your Homework
• Mayo Unveils Discipline Plan
• Mayor Launches “School Change” Campaign
• Reform Drive Snags “New Teacher” Team
• Can He Work School Reform Magic?
• Some Parental Non-Involvement Is OK, Too
• Mayor: Close Failing Schools
• Union Chief: Don’t Blame The Teachers
• 3-Tiered School Reform Comes Into Focus
• At NAACP, Mayo Outlines School Reform
• Post Created To Bring In School Reform
• Board of Ed Assembles Legal Team