Cincinnati's low-performing Taft Elementary Eliminating Principal, Staff, Curriculum

This from KyPost.com:

Cincinnati Public Schools has decided to wipe the slate clean and clean house at one of their poorest-performing schools.

The problem is consistently low test scores from students at Taft Elementary in Mt. Auburn.
The school district has not only decided to get rid of the school's principal and teachers, but it's also doing away with the school's curriculum.

Some parents said they like the proposed changes, they just wish they knew about it before Wednesday's announcement...

...A team of teachers and administrators has made the decision to replace the school's principal and 11 teachers after repeated failures to raise student test scores.

The scores are about 20 points below the district's average.

Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent, Rosa Blackwell, said the district had no other choice, but to revamp the school in order to comply with the "No Child Left Behind Act."

"Unfortunately, too often, teachers aren't attracted to low performing schools. And, perhaps we need to look at some incentives to get the best of the best minds to come into these schools to work with our children," Blackwell said.

Blackwell said the district also had a difficult time keeping certified teachers on staff, sometimes relying on substitute teachers.

The school will return next year under the STEM program.

The STEM program stands for, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum...

Cincinnati Schools cut 87 administrative positions for budget flexibility

Without comment, the Cincinnati Public School Board on Monday voted to not renew the contracts of 87 administrators.

The board, which had discussed the non-renewals in executive session before the meeting, unanimously agreed to Superintendent Rosa Blackwell's recommendation.

Blackwell recommended the non-renewals to give the district flexibility while building its 2007-08 budget. The district has to cut $39 million from its $430 million budget.

The action affects those central office and school administrators whose contracts expire July 31. That includes interim and assistant principals. Only one principal, the head of Central Fairmount, is on the list. That school is slated to close at the end of the school year.

The school board had to act this week because the district has to notify administrators by March 31 of its intent not to renew contracts.

This from the Cincinnati Enquirer. Photo from Cincinnati Public Schools.