In February, we noted a report received from State education officials commending the Englewood Public School District for progress in achieving the goals of desegregation and educational improvement. In April, we noted evidence that State officials view Englewood as a "laboratory of sorts, in that successes achieved here may be replicated elsewhere." The State is in fact monitoring progress in the District on a six-month schedule, and its August report, recently released, remains complimentary.

The new report, 17 pages long, focuses on the steps which have been taken to integrate Dwight Morrow High School with the Academies@Englewood. The combined schools (referred to in the report as DMAE) now have one principal, Jim Smith. They held on June 22, 2007, a unified graduation ceremony, attended by local, county and state leaders, with a "sense of making history and contributing to a brighter future for the community and the students served." As of this fall all incoming ninth graders are enrolled in one of a number of "learning community specializations," several of which have direct links with colleges or other outside institutions.

In addition to a more rigorous curriculum in the combined high school, the report lists steps which have been taken to better prepare middle school students for the new challenges, extensive programs in the area of staff development, and special measures to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking families. It concludes "The Englewood Public School District is positioned to emerge as a state and national model for school reform."

With regard to the report Englewood Schools Superintendent Carol Lisa has commented at our request as follows:

This is an important educational event in the City of Englewood. The October 3 report by Commissioner Lucille Davy strengthens our resolve that partnerships between experienced educators who understand the challenges of whole school reform is a win-win for the children.

The District's comprehensive reform effort was designed in February 2002. My administrative team, in partnership with the NJDOE and strong committed Board members, have kept pace with a sequential educational plan that we believe would garner the kind of changes that now serve the District and will continue to do so in the future. Residents of Englewood and choice families now have, in the Englewood Public School District, educational options that they have not had in the past. New residents need not seek educational alternatives beyond what our school district can offer. When the Commissioner states that other learning communities can take the lead from us, she is correct.

We are challenged in meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmarks. Last year, 100% of the senior class applied to colleges by December. We want every student to be expertly prepared to perform at the highest levels in the secondary and post-secondary arenas. We are not there yet, but we are determined to get there.

The District recently partnered with Bergenfield, Teaneck, Hackensack and Fairleigh Dickinson to seek ways and means to share services and expertise. This direction is supported and encouraged by the Commissioner and our collective Board of Educations.

I am grateful to the Board for supporting the educational agenda my administrative team set forth and for having the fortitude, the foresight and the commitment to have the Englewood Public Schools become an educational force second to none in Bergen County.