South Bend pivots on expanding school 'redesign' after board rejects consultants' contract

SOUTH BEND ⁠— South Bend administrators are planning to invest additional resources in several academically underperforming schools in the coming year.

But, the ways the district seeks to support these schools — Dickinson Fine Arts Academy, Edison Middle School and Washington High School — may look different from past efforts after school board members struck down a series of learning contracts last week.

Last Wednesday, South Bend administrators sought trustees' approval of multiple contracts with the group Learning Sciences International to supplement academic support in the three schools.

The district already partners with the group in three other schools where consultants provide classroom walkthroughs, academic data support and leadership training.

Those schools include Marquette and Muessel elementaries — where district leaders created a new "school redesign" model to help right years of failing state accountability grades — and Jackson Middle School, which followed in the redesign model soon after. Preliminary data shows mixed results for student performance at those schools.

Proposals considered last week would've extended similar services to Dickinson, Edison and Washington in a first-year investment of $885,000 using some of the district's federal pandemic relief money.

Pandemic relief: Here's how South Bend schools plans to use nearly $100M

School board members, however, expressed concern about duplicating resources that may already exist in the district and a weariness to extend services to schools like Edison at a time when the corporation is looking to "right size" amid years of enrollment loss.

In the meantime, the district's academic team says it's focused on providing the best education it can with the coming school year as their priority. The school board's 4-3 decision last week drew divided opinions from trustees, administrators and teachers.

"It's very disheartening for me to see that, when we are trying to push for academics and trying to help our students, that we can't support that staff that are the experts," said Board Vice President Leslie Wesley, whose district includes Washington High School. "I am very disappointed."

What are "redesign" schools?

Last year, following five consecutive years of failing grades in two elementary schools, South Bend administrators created a new "redesign" model tailored to address the specific needs of underperforming schools while maintaining their local teachers and staff.

Each redesigned school was given a new principal and teachers were provided stipends to help retain staff key to seeing through the schools' turnaround efforts.

The redesign model began in Muessel and Marquette at the start of last school year, and was expanded soon after to include Jackson. In May and June 2021, the district entered contracts — totaling just over $900,000 in their first year — with Learning Sciences International as an added layer to their locally created plan.

School redesign: Marquette, Muessel to adopt new turnaround plans

LSI, which has offices in Blairsville, Pa., and West Palm Beach, Fla., provides needs assessments, on-the-ground educator evaluations, and training for teachers and school leaders.

The program promotes instructional styles that encourage student engagement and group work over having teachers lecture to students, presenters told the school board last week. School leadership teams meet monthly to review academic data and identify which students need the most help.

The services aren't meant to replace current teachers or change a school's curriculum, but instead to build capacity at a local level, said Brandon White, the district's assistant superintendent of academics.

"When you enter the schools, you wouldn't have been able to say those are LSI people and then there's South Bend Community Schools people," said Nicole Medich, who directs school turnaround for the district. "LSI really embraced our schools, our teachers and our students."

Is "redesign" working?

After introducing the concept last school year, South Bend administrators this summer say they're ready to expand the redesign philosophy to Dickinson and Edison, which have both also received historically low ratings in state accountability grades.

Leadership changes have already been announced for the schools, and the district sought needs assessments for both buildings from their turnaround partners, LSI.

Their next step, however, seeking contracts for additional turnaround services, drew more than an hour of debate during last week's school board meeting.

Facility study: South Bend district shifts away from closure talks ... for now

Board members questioned whether the group, only now in two elementary schools and one middle school in South Bend, would be successful working with upper grade levels.

In addition to added support in the two new redesign schools, the district also sought to provide LSI services at Washington High School based on the past experiences of incoming principal Kenard Robinson who worked with the group last year at Jackson where the team focused its efforts on establishing "an environment conducive to learning."

But, early data suggests mixed results for the first year of redesign.

Students at Marquette, Muessel and Jackson outpaced their peers across the South Bend district in math growth by 2% as measured by district assessments. These same students, however, showed growth scores 8% lower than their peers in language arts.

In a separate measure — the state's ILEARN exam — Marquette, Muessel and Jackson students passed this year with proficiency in English/language arts and math at rates of 5.2%, 1.6% and 2.1%, respectively. That's compared to rates of 6.3%, 0% and 1.4% last school year.

"While you notice some progress, I'm not sure if it's enough progress for me to think that we need to add on two additional intermediate centers and one high school," Board secretary Stephanie Ball said.

South Bend administrators have been quick to point out that any successful turnaround program requires time and consistency to show improvement, often taking multiple school years.

Concerns at Washington: South Bend's west side wants its principal to stay

Board members also considered whether money going to LSI should instead be invested in expanding existing district-led efforts, like robust literacy programs and teacher training led by South Bend administrators.

NEA-South Bend President Linda Lucy, after watching the school board decision back, agreed, suggesting money should be invested in tutoring, creating smaller class sizes, and attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers rather than paying outside companies.

Lucy said she believes the work LSI is doing at the elementary level, as well as other programs like South Bend's expanding pre-K offerings, will show gains as these students advance into middle and high school.

"Good schools start with great principals and great certified teachers," Lucy said. "They don't need a consultant to come in and tell them what they need."

What happens next?

In a split, 4-3 vote, the South Bend school board decided last week not to fund additional contracts with LSI.

The district's existing relationship with LSI at Muessel, Marquette and Jackson will continue, White said, and the corporation is committed to moving forward in its redesign efforts at Dickinson and Edison, despite the board's decision.

School leadership changes are still in effect and the district's curriculum and instruction department will find ways to invest in these schools using the needs assessments created earlier this year.

Administrative coaches, called directors of school learning, already employed by the district will shoulder some of the professional development LSI was to provide.

Building sale: Talks resume in city's offer to buy South Bend schools HQ

White said LSI's proposed services would have provided individualized support to each newly added redesign school. The district's own directors of school learning typically oversee five schools.

Other supports are still being discussed as administrators respond to the school board's decision and prepare for the start of the 2022-23 year. White said administrators have not yet decided where to redirect the pandemic money it previously planned to use for the new LSI learning contracts.

"We are still committed to improving outcomes for our students," White said. "We just want to make sure that we're doing the best job to make sure that kids, no matter what building they're in, are getting a great education."

Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Carley Lanich at clanich@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @carleylanich.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: These schools get extra help as South Bend expands academic 'redesign'