Administrators, Officials Inform Public on High School Accreditation

The Rocky Hill Public Schools held an informational meeting on the accreditation status of high school Monday night.

In late March, was awarded continued accreditation, but was placed on a warning list by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges Inc. Commission on Public Secondary Schools. In late June, Rocky Hill High School Principal Mario Almeida on the NESAC Report. 

Accreditation Process

When a school is evaluated by NEASC that process is similar to an employee job performance review, according to Raisa Bublick, who was co-chairwoman of the steering committee during the high school accreditation process.

"This entire process is similar to a job evaluation at your place of employment," she said. "Each one of us has experienced this on a regular basis."

The school, which is reviewed every 10 years, must prove it is "following the educational practices described by current state and national standards," Bublick, who is the school librarian, said. The school must be providing students with the "tools necessary to compete and succeed in the global society," she added.

Each school is evaluated on the following seven standards.

• How We Teach (Instructional Methodology)
• What We Teach (Curriculum)
• School’s Mission
• Student Learning Assessment
• School and Community Resources
• School Leadership
• Strengths and Weaknesses

Results of NEASC Report

Stephanie Malkin said in the NEASC report, the committee had concerns in the areas of curriculum and community resources.

Curriculum

• Lack of Funding for Instructional Materials, Supplies and Textbooks to Support Student Learning
• Limited Number of Science Laboratories, which negatively impacted the curriculum
• Use of Media Center as Classroom because space limitations negatively impacted both curriculum delivery and library programs
• Numerous Chemical Hygiene violations, which created safety issues in the pool area, science classrooms and laboratories

Community Resources

• Lack of Proper Ventilation in Chemical Storage Room
• Lack of Funding for Instructional Materials, Supplies and Textbooks
• Multiple Fire Code Violations including storage facilities as well as the electrical and boiler room
• Lack of Handicap Accessibility to Several Parts of the High School
• Lack of Storage, which caused unsafe conditions
• Wide Variation in Climate Control, due to outdated HVAC System
• Lack of Fresh Air Intake
• Limited Level of Funding to adequately support the five-year Capital Improvement Plan
• Lack of Science Laboratories to support the Curriculum

"It becomes quite clear that ongoing facility issues are sufficiently impacting the delivery of the 21st Century curriculum to our students, Malkin read from the NEASC report. "If these issues are not resolved or funding is not approved, then the commission will move to place Rocky Hill High School on probation."

The commission went on to state the school system would not be removed from the warning list until it shows that it has addressed the areas of concern in the report.

Facility Reports

In 2006, the Schoenhardt Report showed that most of the systems at the high school had or were approaching the end of their useful life.

“Four years ago, I was faced with critical facility needs,” Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Villar said. “I deeply regret that we have been unable to address that during my tenure. I am hoping tonight we can move that ball along. I personally think this is the most critical issue facing your community."

In 2008, the first referendum on the long-range school facilities plan was proposed to the residents of Rocky Hill, but it failed. The plan included three smaller elementary schools with all-day kindergarten.  

In 2010, the second referendum plan did not include all-day kindergarten and had only two elementary schools. However, the referendum again did not pass.

In 2011, the Board of Education  that would renovate the high school as new, would receive a technology upgrade and would be completely knocked down, expect for the gymnasium and some additional athletic fields. The existing Moser Elementary School building would be knocked down and a new school built in its place.

Once the NEASC report came back, decided to focus on renovating the high school, which would cost about $40 million. The state is expected to reimburse the town about $25 million for the renovation, according to previous reports.

"The dire needs of addressing the NEASC warning, the board felt takes first precedent," Villar said.

The building if renovated and expanded as new would have a 20-year shelf life and meet the educational needs of the students of Rocky Hill, according to Villar.

"I stand before you very concerned," Villar said. "I spent four years moving nowhere and you have a matter of months to move somewhere very quickly. If not the community faces probation."

If the high school was placed on probation, the students would have a difficult time getting into college from an unaccredited school and the property values in town would drop, Villar said.

On Feb. 9, the Board of Education is expected to vote to recommend to the Town Council that the Rocky Hill High School be considered for renovation and expansion.

Next Steps

Board of Education member Frank K. Morse told the audience that a website, Rockyhillhsproject.org, has been setup to help inform residents on the Rocky Hill High School project renovation. 

He said the website will be dedicated to giving the public updates on the process as well as posting any and all releases and reports on the renovation.

Residents can signup for email reminders and people can leave questions or concerns at the following link, http://rockyhillhsproject.org/contact-us/.

An index card was given to the people who attended the presentation. They were asked to write any additional questions on the card, which will be answered on the site in the near future.

Editor's Note: Rocky Hill Patch took a tour of Rocky Hill High School with parents and officials. That story will be posted on the site later today.

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