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.
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