HOLYOKE — The state’s education department is holding several forums for residents to share input into what qualities they would like to see in a new state-appointed receiver to head the city’s public schools.
In an email to the school community, the school district’s Director of Communications Judy Taylor said that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or DESE, will provide several opportunities for input during February. In addition to a “short, online staff and community survey” open from Feb. 3 through Feb. 17, the education department and its consultant Great Schools will hold two community forums:
■Monday, Feb. 3, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Enlace de Familias at 299 Main St.
■Thursday, Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Holyoke High School’s North Cafeteria at 500 Beech St.
Current receiver/superintendent Stephen Zrike announced on Dec. 19 that he would step down at the end of the school year, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. The state placed Holyoke schools in receivership in 2015, meaning that the city’s democratically elected School Committee does not control the school system. Instead, a state-appointed receiver has the full powers of both superintendent and the School Committee.
In an email, DESE spokeswoman Jacqueline Reis said that there is no concrete timeline in place for returning the district to local control. Reis noted that the district and the state renewed their “turnaround plan” in October of 2018. That plan is in effect for three years.
“At the end of that, the commissioner will consider whether the district has made dramatic improvement and whether the district has the right supports in place to sustain and continue that improvement,” Reis said. “If not, it is likely that the district would remain in chronically underperforming status.”
Reis said that in addition to the two forums and online survey, the School Committee, Student Advisory Group, District Parent Advisory Council, Teacher Advisory Group, students in grades 6 through 12 and central office staff will have separate opportunities to weigh in on the new receiver.
In a letter to the district on Jan. 3 thanking Zrike for his five years as receiver, DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said that Zrike’s departure does not change any timeline for receivership. He added that the new receiver will start work this summer.
A posting for the receiver job says that the state education commissioner hopes to fill the position by spring of 2020. The position has an annual salary range of $185,000 to $220,000.
In its posting, DESE said that the receiver — who reports directly to the state’s education commissioner — will work together with community stakeholders in the culturally diverse city.
“Leveraging the commitment and expertise of these community stakeholders in Holyoke by enhancing and accelerating the progress made thus far during receivership will be essential to the success of the next receiver of HPS — a district that still needs to significantly improve the academic outcomes for all of its students,” the posting reads.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.