Accreditation Warning Status to Canton Jr/Sr High School

In a letter dated April 10, 2002 to Gary Gula, Principal of Canton Junior-Senior High School, the New England Association of School and Colleges (NEASC) congratulated the school administration and faculty for completing the first two phases of its accreditation program: the self-study and the evaluation visit, and informed the town that its Commission on Public Secondary Schools has continued the high school’s accreditation.

However, the Commission also voted to place CJSHS on warning for one of the seven standards, the Standard on Community Resources for Learning, which largely addresses issues related to the facility. In the Visiting Committee Report the Commission expressed various concerns regarding issues with the facility that directly impact teaching and learning. The following citations come from the Report.

  • Serious problems with overcrowded outmoded facilities, particularly at both CJSHS and Canton Intermediate School. There has never been a major renovation of CJSHS; and while such items as doors and carpeting have been repaired or replaced, the facility is visibly worn. (p.12) The school site, plant,and equipment are fraught with problems. (p.74)

  • More than 700 students presently occupy a facility built in the 1970s to manage the needs of 650 students. (p. 8 & p.74) There are acute and chronic space limitations. (p.80)

  • Overcrowding has necessitated the conversion of storage space to labs, offices, and technological teaching stations(p.12) and required that storage space and assembly areas around the building be changed into windowless and unventilated classrooms. (p.74)

  • Art labs, consumer science rooms, physical education facilities, technology education shops, the photography darkroom, and other areas are also poorly ventilated. The darkroom, originally a custodial closet, continually seeps moisture into a utility drain. The library… seriously lacks adequate ventilation. (p.74)

  • Several computer labs have recently been installed at the direct initiative of the superintendent, but there is no language laboratory. (p.74) Infrastructure needs are affecting the full implementation of the school-wide computer network. (p.80)

  • Inoperable and opaque windows (p.75), and failing windows and doorways throughout the building (p.80)

  • Outdated plumbing in the science wing. (p.75)

  • Building code deficiencies found throughout the building. (p.80)

  • Finally, housing a 7th and 8th grade program within the current 7-12 building limits the feasibility of operating a middle school program.

Further Information

As it is in the best interest of the students that the citizens of the district become aware of the strengths and limitations of a school and suggested recommendations for improvement, the NEASC Commission suggests that a school's evaluation report be made public. For further information, visit http://www.neasc.org/ and/or visit the Junior/Senior High School library to review a copy of the report.

What is NEASC Accreditation?

The New England Association of School and Colleges (NEASC), founded in 1885, is the oldest of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States. NEASC's Commission on Public Secondary Schools oversees the accreditation of 642 public schools, (middle level through high school) more than 95% of all public high schools in New England. This does not involve ranking institutions, but rather, establishes a level of acceptable quality for all accredited institutions.

The NEASC goals are school effectiveness, improvement and public assurance. The three-phase accreditation process involves:

  • A 12 to 18-month Self-Study by the school and community, which was completed by Canton JSHS in March 2000-June 2001;

  • On-site evaluation by a Peer Review team, completed in the fall of 2001; and

  • Commitment to continuous improvement through required follow-up activities.

The Next Steps

By July 1, 2002, the school administration must submit a Special Progress Report indicating how specific recommendations, including those related to the facility, have been addressed.

The warning status will not be removed until the school can demonstrate that it has satisfactorily completed these and other evaluation report recommendations related to the cited Standard area of concern. CJSHS has five years to address each of the recommendations.

Planning for Improvements

The Permanent Municipal Building Committee is working with Tai Soo Kim Partners, Architects, on a plan for improvements at both CJSHS and Canton Intermediate School. The committee is encouraging and enlisting the cooperation of parents and community members in support of the planning process and a building referendum to be held in October. Various informal and formal meetings and presentations will be held before the referendum.

Principal Gula has asked town residents "to make an effort to become better informed about these proposals so that a wise and informed decision can be made when a referendum is held. Your input is needed and your involvement is vital if the Canton schools are to meet the high expectations of the community for a first-rate educational experience for Canton's students."
© Tai Soo Kim Partners, 2002. All Rights Reserved.