Innovation Schools

Days before the School Committee vote on Innovation Schools,  backers of those plans rallied Thursday night at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church.  Several speakers from United Interfaith Action urged "yes" votes for the Esperanza and Renaissance Schools, but Mayor Jon Mitchell told the crowd of 200, he is still undecided...

One week before it takes a crucial vote on the subject, New Bedford's School Committee heard public input on Innovation Schools for a final time.

Those in opposition to innovation schools in New Bedford seemed to greatly outnumber those in favor of the two proposals. Both sides were allowed to say their peace concerning the Esperanza School of Language and Culture and the Renaissance Community School for the Arts at a public hearing Wednesday night...

The designers of the Renaissance and Esperanza Innovation School proposals appeared before the New bedford School Committee Wednesday night to make presentations and answer questions.

New Bedford has a new superintendent, and its Dr. Pia Durkin.

The two innovation schools planned for New Bedford have been met with some opposition. One school would provide bi lingual education and would be located in the Roosevelt Middle School and the other would highlight the Arts at the Gomes School.

A Coalition of community organizations, business leaders, and educators have signed a letter to the New Bedford School Committee, urging them to support two innovation school proposals now before the Committee.