Statement by Mayor Joseph M. Petty
on the resignation of Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Melinda Boone:
Worcester is losing a passionate and talented leader. I’ve worked with Dr. Boone the past six years, and I want to wish her the best of luck as she returns home to become Superintendent of the Norfolk, Virginia, Public Schools.
Despite the many challenges inherent in a large, urban school district, the Worcester Public Schools have improved in almost every way over the past six years. Thanks to Dr. Boone’s tireless leadership and the hard work and dedication of every parent, student, teacher, staff member, and volunteer involved with the Worcester Public Schools, we have achieved extraordinary results.
Worcester now has the highest graduation rate of any large urban school system in Massachusetts.
Our graduation rate has risen every year the past five years, and last year was 79 percent — 13 points higher than the City of Boston.
Our dropout rate has fallen to 2.4 percent, its lowest point in two decades.
Average SAT scores are higher.
And more students are taking Advance Placement courses that ever before.
Worcester Technical High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, and its Principal Sheila Harrity was named National Principal of the Year. The school was so successful training Worcester’s young people in the skills needed to succeed, President Barack Obama chose Worcester Tech as his only high school graduation to attend in 2014.
We must keep the momentum going. At next Thursday’s School Committee meeting, I will submit a recommendation to my colleagues to enter into executive session to end Dr. Boone’s contract.
I will then ask that we appoint Chief Academic Officer Marco Rodrigues as interim Superintendent for the remainder of the school year, while we conduct a search for a new leader.
I will also lay out a proposed timeline for the search, and start a discussion on an RFP to hire a search firm.
Worcester has good reason to be proud of its public schools. I am confident that Dr. Rodrigues can keep us heading upward, while we find a new leader that can guide the Worcester Public Schools even higher.
Our children deserve a world-class education, and I plan to continue working every day to make sure they have it.