GHS to become 'Reform Model'
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 8, 2016 1:45 AM
Goldsboro High School will become a "Reform Model" school.
The State Board of Education on Thursday approved an application from Wayne County Public Schools, giving the district flexibility to make changes in such areas as calendar and instructional programs.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore had been working with officials in recent months toward the designation, more familiarly referenced as the "Restart Model."
With 11 schools in the district considered low-performing, GHS was targeted first to receive the attention.
Earlier in the week, during a joint meeting between the school board and county commission, Dunsmore said he was looking forward to making his pitch before the state board and what the outcome might mean to lessening the gap in achievement as well as disparities among the county's schools. He described himself as a "student first" leader with a common goal.
"No matter what part of the county you're from, everybody has the same opportunities," he said.
The "Restart Model," he said, would give the district flexibility with the calendar, allowing teachers to do testing before Christmas rather than after the break.
Wayne Community College will also play a key role in the effort, he said. Discussions have been held toward providing supplemental classes in the CTE, or career and technical education, spectrum.
Tapping into such resources will benefit students at Goldsboro High, he said, without costing the district additional money. Instead of having to develop and fund a program on-site, students will be able to attend core classes at the high school in the morning and be bused to the WCC campus in the afternoon for the CTE classes.
Buses are already fanning out across the county in the late afternoon, transporting Wayne Early/Middle College students home, so would not be a hardship on the schools' budget, he said.
Other goals for the "Reform Model" include using teacher licensure flexibility to fill gaps in essential instructional services, establishing a culture of high expectations at the school, increasing student proficiency and graduation rates and establishing a stronger partnership between the school and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
"In recent years, Goldsboro High has become one of the lowest performing traditional public high schools in our state," Dunsmore said. "Since being named superintendent last summer, I have worked hard to develop a model that will transform Goldsboro High in order to help every student become successful.
"By becoming a 'Reform Model' school, our district will now have a unique opportunity to make immediate and large scale changes to how teaching and learning can take place at this school."
While there are still many details to be finalized, the superintendent said he is confident that the reform efforts have the potential to make the city school a state and even national model for innovation and transformation.
"We are excited that the State Board of Education shares our vision for transforming Goldsboro High School," he said. "We recognize that it will take a Herculean effort to begin this 'Reform Model' by the start of the 2016-2017 school year.
"However, it will be worth the hard work when this innovative model is launched and we can offer Goldsboro High greater calendar and scheduling flexibility, more curriculum opportunities and increased access to resources and learning opportunities, including access to Wayne Community College courses and programs, to further engage students in their academic career."
Now that the district has the go-ahead to launch efforts at GHS, it is just a matter of time before that will expand. The superintendent said he has had ongoing conversations with city and county leadership, as well as the base, garnering support for the program, with hopes it will ultimately filter down to the low-performing middle and elementary schools.