Reorganization of City Schools

Just months ago, rising enrollment in Baltimore City schools gave cause for celebration. However, in light of dramatic budget cuts, school officials are now scrambling to find a solution to a rather desperate equation of how to educate more students with less money. The cover story of the Baltimore Sun on March 11, 2009 displays Dr. Alonso’s plan to shake up and hopefully improve Baltimore City schools.

Simply put, Dr. Alonso plans to shut down several failing schools in order to make way for new charter schools and the expansion of successful existing schools. Among the closures are Lemmel Middle School, outside which a student was stabbed and killed in November, and Thurgood Marshall High School. Other schools, like Digital Harbor High School and the National Academy Freedom High School will expand.

My initial reaction to this plan is a mixture of optimism and intrigue. Baltimore City schools are struggling (no surprise to any educator in this system) and Dr. Alonso is aiming to bolster the entire system. However, this reorganization lacks an explanation for which schools are to be closed- and a solid rationale behind the expansion of other schools. In other words, can we truly expect that successful schools can assume a failing school as is proposed with National Academy Freedom and Dunbar Middle?

As educators, we want to know what elements of “failure” are being considered when schools are closed. Low test scores, poor attendance, and a shrinking graduation rate due to the newly imposed bridge plan are not unique to any one Baltimore City school, nor is optimism or a passionate desire to see students succeed a unique attitude among educators at all of these schools. I can only hope that the schools closed and expanded are as successful as the proposal hopes.