SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Office of the Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras

725 Harrison Street Syracuse, NY 13210 Superintendent of Schools
Phone 3154354161 Fax 3154354015



May 8, 2014


Dear Delaware Families:

I am writing to provide you with important information regarding the future of Delaware Elementary School.

In 2009, Delaware Elementary School was named a persistently lowest achieving school (now known as a
priority school) by the New York State Education Department. As a result, a three-year school improvement
plan was put in place and the school received additional financial resources. Despite the best efforts of the
students and staff, the school did not make enough progress during the three year period that the improvement
plan was in place. In September 2013, the State performed a school review and determined that action must be
taken before the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

The State has given the District the following options to address Delawares underperformance:
1. Close the school and relocate the students
2. Phase out the school and replace it with an entirely new school
3. Enter into a contract with an educational partnership organization to take over the school
4. Convert the school into a charter school
5. Allow the State University of New York (SUNY) to provide for the education of the students at one or
more of the schools

Of these five options, three are not feasible for Delaware for the following reasons. First, the options of closing
or phasing out the school do not work because there are not enough seats at the schools that are closest to
Delawares attendance area or within the same quadrant for the Delaware students to attend. Secondly, the
option to have SUNY provide for the education of the students is not possible because SUNY is not interested
in taking over a school in any district at this time. Of the remaining two options, the District has requested that
the State Education Department provide guidance to explore converting Delaware into a charter school. We
believe that this is the best option because it is the least disruptive to Delaware students, families and staff at the
school. It is the Districts understanding that with the conversion, the school will not be closed and all students
who are currently enrolled at Delaware will be able to remain in the school if they choose. Also, parents will
have a say in the conversion of the school into a charter. The school cannot be converted unless the majority of
the families of students enrolled in the school vote in favor of it.

We will keep you informed of the status of Delaware Elementary School. We are committed to acting in the
best interest of our students and partnering with all families to make sure that we are meeting our students
needs. If you have any questions, please call Principal Escalera.

In the Interest of All Children,



Sharon L. Contreras
Superintendent