BPS REMAINS ‘COMMITTED’ TO TROUBLED CITY SCHOOL

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang insists he wants to see Greater Egleston High School grow after enrollment issues this fall were met with an uproar from parents, students and teachers and prompted the district to place the headmaster on paid leave.

“I know we’ve had some challenges at the beginning of this school year,” Chang said at last night’s school committee meeting. “We are committed to the school ... I am committed personally to making sure this program is successful. We have the need to make sure this program serves even more students.”

Chang’s comments came after more than 100 students lost their placement at the Roxbury high school last month, prompting the district to place headmaster Julie Coles on paid leave. The grade 10-12 school serves students between the ages of 17 and 22 — many of whom are young working parents.

After being criticized by angry parents at a community meeting Tuesday, Deputy Assistant Superintendent Donna Muncey said: “There is not one chance in a million that we are going to close this school. No one should be worried that this school is going to be closed.”

And though the enrollment problems and Coles’ temporary removal have left students and teachers worrying the school may be being eyed for closure after their schedules and curriculum abruptly changed.

The school’s independent governing board, meanwhile, has called for Coles’ reinstatement.

“It is our opinion that the headmaster on leave has earned, and deserves, the trust of the school community, as warranted by an outstanding track record across 14 years of transformative leadership,” said board co-chairman Anshul Jain, who warned that if the enrollment problems aren’t “remedied post-haste there will be an increase in dropout — some of which might be irreversible.”

The enrollment troubles come as the district is dealing with turnover in its Office of Re-Engagement Center. Manny Allen, a BPS re-engagement officer, said his office staff has dropped from nine to four over the years.

“You have to sort of physically meet with students,” Allen said. “It does hurt follow up. Nine would be optimal. Put us back where we were.”

The district, which saw 847 kids drop out last year, placed 98 of those students back in different schools this year.