State Board of Education Visits Wellesley High School

The visitor's parking lot at Wellesley High School filled up at 8:30 a.m. as state officials showed for the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's May 25 meeting.

Just inside the front doors, two high school students sat behind a table stacked with photocopied, staple-bound documents, letters, briefs and a sign-in sheet. Greeting the officials, dressed in a dark suit and tie, was  Michael D'Ortenzio, Jr., the student member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, also a Wellesley High School Student.

Once a year, the board meets at the school of its student member.

On the agenda for the day was discussion of the efforts of the Proficiency Gap Task Force, which is recommending that the state set a goal that 85 percent of the students in the state test proficient or advanced on the MCAS.

Also up for discussion was the federal Race to the Top grant, worth $250 million, which the state missed and will re-apply for this week. The grant is given to states that demonstrate progress in education reform. The deadline for the application is June 1.

The board also discussed public comments on changes to Charter School Regulations.

Before the day got started, D'Ortenzio received a compliment for his work. "He's a terrific member of the board," said Rhoda Schneider, general counsel for the board.