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Date: 1/18/2023
SPRINGFIELD – Superintendent Daniel Warwick looks forward to several critical developments that will occur across 2023 for Springfield Public Schools (SPS).
One of the major developments for 2023 is progress for the school district’s new strategic plan, Portrait of a Graduate. Warwick shared that several years of public input helped develop a vision of the skills and attributes SPS students need to find success in college and career.
“We had the entire community and reached out to thousands of folks putting together our new strategic plan with the idea of what we want our graduates to know and be able to do when they graduate from [SPS],” said Warwick in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Warwick stressed that extensive public input played a significant role in shaping the strategic plan. Community partnerships will also play a part within the Portrait of a Graduate.
“We never had a strategic plan where the outreach and involvement of the community was so significant … It really does take a village to raise a child, so this is a community endeavor,” said Warwick.
With Portrait of a Graduate formed, Warwick said that SPS is now executing the plan and its holistic vision for students.
“It’s a lot more than just academics and typical things a strategic plan would focus on in our world. It’s far reaching, we want students to thrive and be productive members of the community,” said Warwick.
An expansion of community-based internships and financial literacy courses are some of the career-oriented focuses that Portrait of a Graduate features, according to Warwick. The superintendent said that steps of the strategic plan will be gradually implemented in stages of different school cohorts across the next six years.
“Every school is in a different spot. Our ability to support all the schools is better if we go in cohorts. We’ve had the schools step up in groups so we can help them through the process. All the schools are in different stages and are having slightly different plans for how they are going to execute the portrait over time,” said Warwick.
Warwick also noted several positive developments for SPS facilities. Construction remains on schedule for the development of the new $95 million DeBerry-Swan School that will host students from DeBerry School and Homer Street Elementary School. The school will be located next to the current DeBerry School on Union Street.
“We’re really focused on making sure the school is up, well-designed and ready to go in August when we open up. Right now, we are on time and on budget despite all of the challenges that are in the construction industry,” said Warwick.
The new DeBerry-Swan School is just one of several significant facility upgrades. Warwick stressed that accelerated repairs, including new doors, windows and other fixtures, continue to help modernize the school district. The median age of SPS facilities is 55 years old, according to Warwick.
“We’ve done more with accelerated repairs … All of our facilities, which years back were rundown and tired, you have to put a lot into maintenance. We put a tremendous amount into maintenance over the last several years so all of our facilities are looking better,” said Warwick.
Another focus for Warwick is continuing to mend learning and social/emotional gaps widened by the coronavirus pandemic.
“One thing we are dealing with right now is the recovery from the [coronavirus] pandemic, including learning loss and all of the social/emotional issues that went with the trauma of what our community experienced,” said Warwick.
Warwick aspires for the infusion of funding resources, such as Student Opportunity Act and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, to help mitigate the setbacks. Some of the funding will be utilized for the expansion of extended learning programs.
“We built in programs for extended day support services for students in mornings, evenings, Saturdays … We’re [also] offering summer programs for all kids who need extra services every summer. As opposed to certain targeted grade levels, everyone is getting a free summer school program,” said Warwick.
Learning loss also negatively impacted students’ performance on MCAS tests. While school districts across the commonwealth featured lower scores, Warwick was encouraged to see SPS 2022 test scores show signs of progress.
“Statewide, there was loss [in scores], but we actually narrowed the gap with the state. We had less loss than other communities, and we actually had gains in certain areas. Our students are making progress in their recovery,” said Warwick.
Additionally, Warwick sees continued improvement in the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The superintendent stressed that each pillar has been a focus of his since becoming superintendent in 2012. He views new inclusions, like the development of a dual-language program at Gerena Community School, as critical methods for meeting student needs.
“We’re meeting the needs of a very diverse student body, so that’s something as we are implementing Portrait of a Graduate and everyday in our work, we are always mindful of,” said Warwick.
As SPS focuses on gradual improvements, Warwick notes that the classroom setting is finally beginning its return to a sense of normalcy.
“As I visit the schools and go through the classrooms, the instruction is back to what it was pre- [coronavirus] pandemic … The schools look like they did pre-[coronavirus] pandemic, and I am very proud of the staff for all their efforts in making that happen,” said Warwick.
Readers can learn more about SPS at https://www.springfieldpublicschools.com/.