The Providence School Board has confirmed Michael Lazzareschi as principal of the new Nathan Bishop Middle School. Mr. Lazzareschi, who is currently principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, has an exemplary record of accomplishment as an administrator. Recently, he was named by the Rhode Island Association of School Principals as the Rhode Island National Distinguished Elementary Principal for 2007-08. Mr. Lazzareschi’s appointment is a giant step in the direction of making Nathan Bishop an outstanding school.
Though Mr. Lazzareschi will be leaving MLK, he will still be the principal for MLK students who attend Nathan Bishop for middle school, either as their neighborhood school or under the District’s school-choice policy. We understand that the terms of his appointment, which officially begins in February, will allow him to make the transition in a way that will keep MLK functioning well, and that he will work closely with his successor at MLK
ESPEC reported last Spring that we were encouraging the School Department to hold another public forum on Bishop. Our goal has been to give the community a chance hear more about the plans for Bishop’s academic program, staffing, and school governance. With the change of Superintendents, we decided to postpone this effort until this Fall, and we hoped that this would also allow time for the the new principal to be appointed.
Now that the principal has been selected, we have heard from the District that a meeting along these lines is being planned. We will let you know as soon as details emerge. We have emphasized to the District the importance of holding this meeting before parents are required to choose their public schools next month. We also hope to write very soon with regard to the attendance policies for Bishop and the steps necessary for enrollment. We expect that Nathan Bishop will be represented at the upcoming Middle School fair.
More than two and a half years ago, when the closing of Nathan Bishop was announced, the community came out in force to express our desire for a strong public school and our commitment to supporting and improving public education in Providence. Now that the new Nathan Bishop is on schedule to open in September 2009, and things appear to be on track for it to be very well-run, we hope you will continue to support the new Nathan Bishop Middle School.
Mr. L will be greatly missed at MLK. He is a phenomenal principal, and I know he will be a great asset to Bishop and will set the school on the right track.
Now, at King we must be focused as well, that the correct replacement principal is found. MLK has a unique welcoming, family-like feel to it, and a lot of that has to do with the tone that Mr. L has set. I fear the district will try to push a new principal on us that will not fit our school.
Christine,
I believe I heard you speak at the School Board meeting. I was very gratified that King parents spoke out in support of Mike’s appointment at Bishop.
Although ESPEC has been intently focused on Nathan Bishop, we are the EAST SIDE Public education coalition. That is, we are bound to support all east side schools and not just Bishop. (let me add that we work to support public education in Providence generally…but we’ve been concerned that there has been no middle school on the east side for two years, and the Bishop was totally dysfunctional for a long time before that). One element in the decision to support a middle school, rather than K-8, at Bishop was that a K-8 at Bishop would likely have lead to the closing of King (as the DeJong report originally suggested). Thus, ESPEC has always been strongly in support of King’s continuance and success.
While all of us began this process with a deep suspicion of the Districts competence and motivation, the last couple of years have been rather rewarding in that regard. Tom Brady was explicit at the School Board meeting that the District supports a strong voice for parents and the community in the process of selecting a new Principal for King. We think Mike Lazzareschi will play a significant role in the process.
Do not fear. Stay involved, and King will have a great new principal.
i want my child to go to bishop but at the same time i dont cause some of my friends say its a bad school some of them said its a good school because some of my friends are putting thier childern in but my other friends are putting themto xs2 what should i do send me pictures how it looks right inside at my email