Youngstown school system improves — albeit slightly

The academic collapse of the Youngstown City School District did not occur overnight, which means its recovery will not be quick or effortless. Hence, even incremental gains deserve recognition. The 2010-11 state report card shows the district improved from academic emergency, which has been in place for two years, to academic watch.

The district met only two of 26 indicators — 11th grade writing and attendance — but consider that for the 2009-10 reporting period, it met only one indicator.

“This is something we need to celebrate,” said Superintendent Connie Hathorn, who took over the academically and financially troubled system in January, “It’s a victory. It’s not where we want to be, but it’s better than where we were.” Hathorn, who has literally turned the district upside down to get the best out of the principals, teachers and students, is enthusiastic about the future — as evidenced by his use of the word celebrate.

We aren’t ready to join in any such celebration, but if the move up from what has been the status quo is an indication of things to come, we offer our encouragement.

The district was placed in academic emergency in January 2010 by the Ohio Department of Education after it failed to make progress on the report cards in selected groups of students.

The designation triggered the appointment of the Youngstown Academic Distress Commission, charged with developing a plan to improve test scores. The goal is to have the urban school district in “continuous improvement” by 2015. The move up to academic watch from academic emergency is the first step.

A year after the commission was appointed, Dr. Hathorn was hired by the Youngstown Board of Education to replace Dr. Wendy Webb, who retired.

The superintendent, in conjunction with the academic distress commission and the school board, has launched the Youngstown School District Revitalization Plan. It involves the reorganization of the schools, with the Chaney Science, Technology, Engineering and visual and performing arts school, the eighth- and ninth-grade academy and the alternative school as the centerpiece.

Critics

Some critics have questioned whether those students not attending Chaney are being dumped in East High School, which will emphasis business, law and education. The superintendent insists that students at East aren’t being shortchanged academically and that their progress will be closely monitored.

Hathorn, the board of education and the state commission appear to be steering the schools in the right direction.

On Sept. 14, the state superintendent of public education, Stan W. Heffner, is expected to attend the meeting of the academic distress commission. A report on the district’s academic progress will be submitted to him. He will decide whether the system should proceed with the plan to improve the test scores.