Malden Reads presents their selection for "The Hate U Give" at the School Committee meeting. Photo courtesy of Mayor Christenson.
Every year Malden Reads selects a book for the whole city of Malden to enjoy together. Currently, The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas is being read throughout the city of Malden. Thomas touches on almost every topic involving race: police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement; microaggressions; drug addiction, all through the lens of protagonist Starr Carter, a black teenage student.
Kindergarten through eighth grade is reading The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. Which is a true story about a Ruby Bridges, who as a 6 year old, marked the beginning of desegregation of all white schools. The story tells the power of perseverance, and reminds the community how far we have come.
In the recent school committee meeting held at Malden Senior Center, Superintendent John Oteri thanked the people behind Malden Reads for “igniting a spirit with in us to go off and read and be reflective and bring that back to the community”. A representative from Malden Reads also added that she is “thankful for the support [they] have gotten from teachers and librarians”.
Also from the Malden High School’s Black Culture Club, student Christina Charles spoke to the school committee the importance of the club. The Black Culture Club “informs and educates students about black culture and heritage in Malden High”. Charles in addition announced that the Black Culture Club will be hosting a show comorating black culture. Which is in collaboration with Malden Reads. She hopes to have “more than one year of this, [they] want to have an annual event”.
In addition to Malden Reads, the Superintendent reflected on the first Superintendent Meet and Greet at the Malden High School Library. He felt that having a “open forum round table” decision was the best way to make a decision. Citizens of the Malden community gave their opinion on “things we doing well in the district, and things that are a challenge”. In which, the findings were reported to at the Principals Meeting.
Superintendent Olteri also provided clarification as to how the schools are going to be reviewed going forward. He explained how the accountability reports does not include student that drop out and reined repeat. Before, they would that student will be “counted as a drop out twice. Now they will not”. In addition, the city will not be accounted for “students who has only been in [the] district for less than a year”.
However, they are going to judge the student growth percentile. Olteri stated that they calculate this by “taking the school and how they perform and the lowest quarter percentage of [the] student and 25 % of our performing students and they are going to grade that on a 1 to 4 bases. Which is 4 being the best.. The goal is a 75.”
In closing, the school committee spoke about Dr. Susan Vatalaro who retired after being the principal at the Beebe School. School committee councilor of ward 2 Rober McMcathy, Jr. commented Vatalaro on her “45 years of service for the district” , and how he is “really really glad to be her co-sponsor”
Additionally, school committee member of ward 3 Jennifer Spadafora stated Dr.Vatalaro “embodies a true Maldonian”. Dr. Vatalaro’s story of how she graduated from Malden High School and came back to teach is what Spadafora “is looking for from [the] students right now”.
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