PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
December 19, 2011 JASON SILVA, CHIEF OF STAFF
978-745-9595, EXT. 5603
Beverly Cooperative Bank Donation to Fund New After School Program
Check presentation scheduled TODAY, Monday, December 19 at Bentley Elementary School
SALEM, MA – Beverly Cooperative Bank is making the first significant donation to the schools to help jump start the district wide turnaround effort. A press conference and check presentation is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 9:15 am at the Bentley Elementary School.
Beverly Cooperative Bank will donate $12,800 to help fund a new after school tutoring program in the areas of Math and English Language Arts that will operate in all of Salem’s public schools commencing in January. This after school program is an initial step intended to accelerate the schools efforts to improve MCAS scores across the board. This donation is expected to help provide an additional hour of Math and English Language Arts instruction at each of our public schools for the next 20 weeks which is a critical time for MCAS test preparation.
“Salem is very fortunate to have partners in our business community like Beverly Cooperative Bank that step up to the plate time and time again,” stated Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. “Their generous donation will go a long way in meeting our collective goal of improving public education in our community.”
“We welcome the opportunity to join with the Beverly Cooperative Bank in this community-wide effort,” stated Superintendent Stephen Russell.
This announcement follows the school district’s Level 4 designation. The creation of this after school tutoring program is part of an effort to jumpstart the district’s turnaround plan and put in place some immediate steps to improve effectiveness in core subject areas of Math and English Language Arts. A community wide effort to improve the schools has also begun. In early December, the process started with a kick-off meeting of key community stakeholders with over 100 people in attendance. Last week, the members of the Bentley Stakeholder Group were announced and they are already at work.
“We are very excited to be a part of the launch of this important initiative in the Salem School System,” said Beverly Cooperative Bank President Bill Howard. “Providing funds to develop the skills essential to increase MCAS scores and enhance public education is an effort in which we are proud to be involved. Our young people are the future; our investment in them is critical,” added Howard.
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