GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – This school year marks the beginning of an attempt to turn around the academics at Green Bay’s Washington Middle School.
The school district hired a new principal and an outside consulting firm to get the job done.
Coming from Oshkosh’s Merrill Middle School, new Washington principal Cindy Olson tells FOX 11 she’s heard of the problems troubling her new school.
“If what was reported is accurate, then there is a need for some change.”
Former teacher Kerstin Westcott outlined dangerous and unsafe conditions to the school board during a meeting in June 2017.
“Students and staff are physical, verbally, emotionally, mentally, and sexually abused every single day,” Westcott told the board.
In response, Green Bay schools have focused on ways to improve student behavior.
In February, the district said it had stabilized the behavior and looked towards academic improvement by hiring a new principal.
“I think one of the important pieces is to recognize this is a way different skill set and a very different individual than what we’ve ever had in there,” said Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld in February.
Olson beat out 30 other candidates for the job.
“It’s really about systems and creating systems that help students feel safe at school and help teachers create an environment in the classroom where they can teach,” said Olson.
Staff members didn’t have to be part of the academic turnaround if they didn’t want to.
The school district offered teachers the opportunity to leave, with certain job placement at another school if they wanted.
Without knowing reasons for leaving, Olson believes about 15 percent of the staff is different compared to last year.
However, she says while some people chose to leave, others were fighting to be part of what is going on here.
“I believe in Green Bay’s mission and doing right by students and I believe in this community,” said Jeanne Wall, a new associate principal at Washington.
Wall left her job in Two Rivers to join Washington’s staff. She tells FOX 11 teachers are ready to turn things around, with Olson leading.
“From what I have seen so far, she is truly an inspirational leader and I think she is going to do wonderful things for Washington and this community.”
The last few weeks, Olson has spent her time meeting with more than 60 staff members.
“I know that every staff that I’ve talked with is very committed to the students that come to school here.”
The principal team has a plan for the new year’s first 100 days. Olson says it includes specific benchmarks to hold the staff accountable for students’ success.
The state’s academic report cards for districts and schools for last year have not been released yet.
However, for the 2016-17 school year, the state identified Washington as “meeting few expectations.”
Its rating was last among the district’s five middle schools.
