Parents at Lynch Given Option to Change Schools

is a Title I school, but it is also considered a “failing” school, according to No Child Left Behind. , Lynch is considered a school that needs improvement.

Since Lynch is a Title I school and a “failing” school, the district is required to give parents a school choice option.

Lynch parents will receive a form this week and will have the option to transfer their children to another school within the district. Parents will have 14 days from receiving the letter to make the decision.

If parents choose to change schools, they need to rank the other schools in the district, according to which one they would like their child to attend. Parents can only choose between Lincoln, Muraco, or Vinson-Owen/Parkhurst.

According to Superintendent William McAlduff, students from low-income homes get first priority. After that, the school administration decides (based on the parents’ ranking) what school to send the children too. McAlduff said that the district cannot use “lack of capacity” as an excuse when deciding assignments.

If a student is going to switch schools, the district would need to provide transportation if the students’ home is more than two miles away from their new school.

“I believe the Lynch School community is much more than the MCAS scores,” McAlduff said. “That is just a small success of the students at Lynch.”

“I’m concerned about the school choice,” said School Committee chair, Chris Linskey. “I’m not sure how this will effect the community.”

Improvement Plan

At the next School Committee meeting, McAlduff plans on unveiling the district’s Intervention Pilot Plan, to help struggling students at Lynch.

The pilot plan, which if approved by the School Committee would go into effect this year, would help Lynch students who are in the failing/warning or the needs improvement category for the MCAS.

McAlduff said that the program would either be after or before school or a combination of both. It’s a program that’s already provided at the high school.