Phase 1 & 2 of Receivership with the Dever School in Dorchester, MA

In February 2020, School & Main Institute was appointed by the Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education as the next receiver of the Paul A. Dever Elementary School in Dorchester, Massachusetts.   With the appointment, SMI began a process of getting to know and learning about the school in preparation for July 1, 2020, when SMI's receiver role formally begins.  The ultimate goal is seeing the school return to the Boston Public School District by the end of the school's turnaround plan.  

During the first phase of the work, SMI worked to build relationships with staff, faculty and stakeholders and to gain a thorough understanding of the school's culture, climate and opportunities for building greater student success.  Our objectives are to create a school culture and climate based on strong relationships between students and staff, and culturally sensitive and "warm-demanding" expectations for all students in a rigorous academic environment.  We believe this approach will lead to improved student academic outcomes and close the proficiency gaps.  A COVID-19 contingency plan to address different SY20-21 school start up scenarios will also be part of the planning leading up to the opening of school for the 2020-21 school year.