Randolph High gets expected probation:
Review team says town hasn't provided consistent support

RANDOLPH – The accreditation of Randolph High School is at risk after the New England Association of Schools and Colleges placed the school on probation.

Randolph school officials said the action by the accrediting association was not unexpected and budget cuts were the primary culprit.

“The overall school picture is a large number of students not getting what they need because we don’t have the programs or the resources to get them back,” said high school Principal William Conard.

The school will maintain its accreditation as long as it makes progress on implementing the recommendations in the association’s 94-page report, said School Superintendent Richard Silverman.

“There’s not too much here that’s unexpected or surprising,” Silverman said of the report.

“We don’t see this as a negative document,” Silverman said. “We see this as an opportunity to make the kind of changes we need to make.”

A quick review by school officials found many of the recommendations mirror the ones in the school’s improvement plan and the recently adopted five-year strategic plan for the system.

“We know the needs, and this confirmed them for us,” Conard said.

Silverman asked for the community’s support to implement the recommendations.

“We want this to be a community effort. We want the community to partner with us. We can’t do it ourselves.”

The school’s accreditation was up for a regular review this year, with the last complete review taking place a decade ago, Silverman said.

The accreditation report is based on a visit to the school by a team of educators in March, two weeks before voters rejected a proposed $4.16 million Proposition 2 1 2 override that would have added $3 million to the school budget. Reports submitted by school officials were also considered.

“The reductions caused by the failed override aggravated situations already found wanting,” the report said, “while in other cases, they brought additional shortcomings to the fore.”

This year’s $29.67 million school budget was $500,000 more than last year and was the first school budget increase in three years. Officials said it was more than $3 million less than what was needed to maintain last year’s programs due to negotiated pay raises, higher special education costs and increases for utilities and other expenses.

The report went on to say the town has not “consistently ensured an adequate and dependable” source of money for school programs, staff, supplies and facilities.

The school system must submit progress reports to the association every six months. If the association doesn’t feel enough progress has been made, it can revoke the school’s accreditation.

Silverman said the accreditation change won’t be official until mid-January.

The change should not affect most students in the college admissions process, he said.

“For a student who has taken a rigorous course of study, who has done well and whose SAT scores are fine should have no problem,” Silverman said.

But, he added, the change in accreditation could be the deciding factor between students who appear equally qualified.

Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.