Proviso High Schools Removed From Financial Watch List!!!

Proviso Township High Schools is poised to celebrate. After two years, the school system has officially been removed from the Illinois State Board of Education’s financial watch list.

“With the hard work of the Proviso Township High School Board of Education, the administrators, and the voluntary financial oversight panel, the district has greatly improved its finances and is no longer on financial watch,” said Illinois State Board of Education Division Administrator Debbie Vespa. “They have been working very hard—I know.”

PTHS 209 Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart echoed that sentiment and commended her administration for a job well done.

Each year, the state board analyzes school districts' finances and designates them as financially sound, under review, under warning or--in the worst case--on a financial watch list. After implementing an intense deficit reduction plan and working with Proviso stakeholders to better manage finances and reduce deficit spending, PTHS has moved from financial watch to the second highest category.

This feat is especially remarkable considering the financial crisis many schools are facing in the state of Illinois. This month, the Illinois State Board of Education released its annual report on the financial health of school districts. As expected, in the current economy, the picture is grim with few exceptions. However, Proviso Township High Schools has been on a steady school improvement track. Finances have been one of the district’s top priorities. While most school districts have standing deficits of tens of millions of dollars, Proviso’s operating deficit for FY09 was under $1 million. This is a victory that PTHS 209 attributes to the hard work of administration, the Board of Education, and the cooperation of PTHS stakeholders.

“We are extremely happy and proud that our hard work and collaborations are moving our school district forward,” said Dr. Nikita Johnson, PTHS 209 Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations. “That is what it’s all about. Our focus has been on our students. We have had to constantly analyze how we can best serve them; how we can continue to improve our academic programming while also improving and monitoring our finances.”

PTHS 209 Board President Chris Welch said, “This took strong leadership from our Board of Education, and it also took collaboration from all of our stakeholders. So, this is a cause for celebration. Most importantly, it is a strong indicator that we are on the right track in all aspects of our school improvement initiatives. This accomplishment gives us momentum to keep moving forward and to keep getting better.”

Johnson said, PTHS 209 administrators and the Board of Education will continue to work together in order to maintain the fiscal health of Proviso Township High Schools. Administrators remain cautious yet optimistic as a fiscal crisis and funding adjustments at the state level will require school districts statewide to continue to closely monitor finances and spending through 2011.

Updated...Proviso East Classes Scheduled To Resume Wednesday At East!!!

Proviso East High School will re-open tomorrow, Wednesday (Sept. 24).

Proviso East will be following the "First Day of the Week Schedule." Teachers and staff are to report as regularly scheduled. Students are to arrive by 9:00 am.

There will be no breakfast served on Wednesday (Sept. 24).

"Today we received the certificate of occupancy that allows us to re-open our school," said PTHS 209 Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart. "I would like to thank the Proviso East administrative team for their strong leadership during this very challenging time. Our parents, students, and community have been very supportive and patient during this process, and the teamwork displayed by Proviso West and PMSA has been phenomenal. The faculty and staff are prepared, and we are excited to get our students back into the classroom."

Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch commended all of the administrators and staff who have worked tirelessly to get Proviso East back on track. "We are greatful to have such hardworking, dedicated staff on our team."

Proviso Math And Science Academy Tests Scores Exceed State Standards!!!

The Proviso Math & Science Academy's test scores not only meet but exceed testing standards for the state of Illinois, according to their Adequate Yearly Progress Report (AYP).

Under the accountability provisions in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, all public school campuses, school districts, and the state are evaluated for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Districts, campuses, and the state are required to meet AYP criteria on three measures: Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics.

Out of 100 percent of students who were tested in reading and math at PMSA, 77 percent meet or exceed state standards in reading, and 66 percent meet or exceed the standards in math.

"There will be those who say that this great accomplishment should be expected because we are a selective enrollment school," said PMSA Principal Ed Moyer. "But given that this is a brand new school and this is the first year that we've had our kids go through this testing process, for us this is a strong indicator of the quality of our program."

Moyer says that even though the percentages are above average PMSA will continue to strive to have 100 percent of students exceeding the state average.

"We are going to continue to make progress," said Moyer. "Higher scores in math is one of our top priorities. I am so proud of our students and faculty. This is really good--but we want to be great."

PTHS 209 Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart said, "This is a great accomplishment for Proviso Township High Schools. I believe that we have the potential to be among the highest performing schools in the state. We are very proud of PMSA and look forward to celebrating this same success throughout the district."

Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch who led the District in the development of the new high school said, "These scores validate the decision made by the Board of Education in 2003 to move forward witha third high school. Proviso is Rising."

Proviso Township Leaders Meet To Develop Plan To Combat Violence

Leaders from across Proviso Township and the Maywood community came together recently to discuss ways to combat recent violence in the Proviso community. Bishop Claude Porter and Rev. Reginald Saffo from the Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance led a meeting that reportedly took place at PLCCA's headquarters in Maywood. Also present at the meeting were high school officials including Proviso School Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Superintendent Nettie Collins-Hart, Director of Security Brandon Gale, Principal Milton Patch, Maywood Trustees Audrey Jaycox and Kim Johnson, and a host of area ministers and police officers. The group reportedly committed to working together across political lines for the good of the community. Let's see what happens from the this point. What do you think needs to be done to combat violence in the community?

Proviso Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Board Majority Saves Jobs For Those In Most Need!!!

The Proviso Insider web log has learned that Proviso Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and the board majority of Sue Henry, Dan Adams, Brian Cross, Robin Foreman and Robert "Bob" Cox, recently saved the jobs of numerous support staff members at Proviso Township High School District 209. The Board majority members, along with new Superintendent Nettie Collins-Hart, are reportedly dedicated to balancing the district's budget, but they did not want to do it on the backs of the Support Staff after hearing pleas from Support Staff Union President Ida Chester. At the board meeting on July 21, 2008, a list of at least 20 support staff members was presented to the board for termination, but after a lengthy closed session, Superintendent Collins-Hart withdrew the recommendation and saved jobs and families in this tough economy. The Board will reportedly look to find the revenue with cuts in other areas.

What do you think of this move by the Proviso board majority and the new superintendent? What do you think the Board can cut to help balance their budget?

Proviso Hires New, Award Winning Superintendent!!!

Proviso Township High Schools District 209 has ended its superintendent search by placing Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart, an award winning superintendent and noted school reformer, in the top spot.

At Monday night's board meeting the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Board of Education unanimously accepted the recommendation of the search firm and welcomed Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart with a three year contract.

This decision was made after a thorough search, which included considerable community input.

"We were fortunate to have a number of highly qualified candidates who shared our vision for the education of our young people and the development of our schools," said PTHS 209 Board President Chris Welch. "After an exhaustive review process, we were convinced that Dr. Collins-Hart was the best person for the job. We are excited to bring her talent, dedication and vision to the service of our Proviso students and families."

Dr. Collins-Hart was selected from a field of four exceptional finalists, all of whom underwent a rigorous review process by the PTHS 209 search committee, said Welch.

Collins-Hart most recently served as Superintendent for the Bertie County Schools in North Carolina. There, she was credited with helping move the county schools forward with innovative curriculum and grant funding.

Among other awards, Collins-Hart received the 2006 Superintendent of the Year award from the American Cancer Society for the South Atlantic Region 4 and a Leadership Award in 2005 from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro National Alliance of Black School Educators. She's also been cited for her work in closing the achievement gap in equity education by author Glenn Singleton in his 2005 book Courageous Conversations about Race: a Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools.

Most of Collins-Hart's work has involved raising the standards of classroom instruction, closing achievement gaps between various student demographics, and improving curriculum development, alignment, and implementation. She also possesses a noteworthy track record of sound fiscal management and accountability at both primary and secondary levels of education.

Dr. Collins-Hart received her Bachelor's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, two Master's degrees from East Carolina University, and her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas.

Collins-Hart's contract as PTHS 209 Superintendent begins July 1, 2008.