The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a number of public school models, including Commonwealth Charters, Horace Mann Charters, Innovation Schools, Innovation Pathways, and Early College High Schools to name a few. Last October, the Barnstable School Committee held a workshop to learn more about an Innovation School model. The model was discussed as an option to consider within Barnstable Public Schools. When the Barnstable School Committee did not renew the Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School’s (BCHMCPS) charter in June 2018, teachers at the school explored the Innovation School model as a way to continue autonomy in the areas of curriculum and instruction. Over the summer, several teachers from the BCHMCPS school put together a prospectus for the Innovation School that established a vision and mission for a proposed Barnstable Community Innovation School.  The prospectus was approved by the Screening Committee, and a Planning Committee was formed to complete the Innovation School application.  In October, the Planning Committee met with the School Committee to show them where they were within the application process, and to get feedback on their plans.  The Planning Committee will continue to meet in November and December to complete the application.  They will need a 2/3 vote from the licensed teachers at BCHMCPS before submitting the application to the School Committee for approval in January.  

The Planning Committee wants to share with the Barnstable Community their proposal for a proposed Barnstable Community Innovation School:

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Exciting and innovative news to come for the elementary schools and families in the Town of Barnstable.

WHAT:

Over the summer of 2018 several Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter Public School teachers met to investigate the possibility of converting to an Innovation School in response the School Committee’s non-renewal of the Charter School.  Teachers in the current school and the school committee will have a chance to vote on the application.

WHO:

A Planning Committee has been created consisting of our Superintendent, a School Committee Member, a Principal, the Lead Applicant, Teachers, and Parents.

WHEN & WHERE:

The Committee began meeting on September 26, 2018, and will continue to meet every other week.  The meetings are located in the conference room on the bottom floor of the School Administration building and are open to the public.  

Future Innovation Meeting Dates:

November 14, November 20, December 5, December 19

4:00 - 5:30PM

WHY:

The potential INNOVATION SCHOOL may allow us to:

• Be the only SCHOOL OF CHOICE  for the Town Of Barnstable

• Have students from all 7 villages

• Continue on with our current curriculum for ELA & Math
• Continue with All School Meetings
• Continue with Enrichment Clusters
• Focus on Project Based Learning
• Have leadership roles for students
• Maintain our School Garden
• Continue to provide Instructional Support for All Students
• Provide additional supports and services for students identified with social/emotional or behavioral issues