Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program first just so I can get some background on it?
A: Well, it's under the magnet schools assistance program, and Springfield's had a long and successful history of effectively utilizing these investments. The department of education at the United States level has worked on this for more than fifteen years, so I think that there's substantial evidence here that this improves opportunities for many of the children that are in the Springfield School system.
Q: And can you tell me why this investment is important to you personally?
A: Because I think it augments 21st century global communication skills, and I think that it emphasizes heavily what the new economy looks like. As a former teacher I think assisting these children in Springfield's public schools is just a good idea and it should be treated as an investment, and that's precisely what we're suggesting.
Q: Why do you think Springfield is the right school district for this kind of investment?
A: Well, I think Springfield represents a great laboratory with which to experiment and I think that this is an opportunity for that experiment; taking these students with advanced skills into the new decade. There is here, I think, an understanding that many of the children who might find themselves disadvantaged, none the less, have ample opportunity based upon the assistance that this magnet school proposal is offering t give them the sort of skills they're going to need down the road.
Q: And do other school districts in Mass. have this sort of funding?
A: I believe that Boston would have the same sort of opportunity, as they've had in the past, but we have done very well here over the last few years, based upon this suggestion that there is a partnership with the federal government that allows our students to learn and to grow.
Q: How do you go about securing this money?
A: Well, there are a variety of ways. We're generally called upon to do a little bit of lobbying behind the scenes including through the grant application. We assist the respective school department officials as they raise questions or have questions, and in the past we've helped them get right to the deadline in making sure that it was packaged and applied for at the right time. Now it's done electronically so that we assist them even at this stage.
Q: Can you comment on any of the initiatives? Do you know about how the schools are going to be using the money?
A: Well there's great flexibility that's built in and I think there are going to be an array of choices for students and their parents according to Dr. Ingram [NOTE: the Superintendent] who has been a terrific and, I think, effective advocate on behalf of these children.
Q: Have you thought about how you personally would like to see the money spent?
A: I mean, I really refrain from that. I think the partnership is based upon the priorities that are determined by local officials, with the understanding that having children that excel is something good for America.
EDITORS NOTE: A magnet school is type of education system which sets up different schools which target different types of learning and have highly specialized courses. For example in Springfield they have one school oriented towards fine arts, and one oriented towards science and technology, among others. Also, the Magnet Schools Assistance Program is designed to help draw minority students into this type of educational environment.
Finally, this interview was part of a spot I wrote for WFCR about the MSAP on Friday the 24th. for the full piece, featuring a clip from the interview, click here
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