Memo from Brittain and Stone to Remedial Team Re: Conference Call on Preparing a Remedial Plan
Correspondence
January 7, 1990
4 pages
Cite this item
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Case Files, Sheff v. O'Neill Hardbacks. Memo from Brittain and Stone to Remedial Team Re: Conference Call on Preparing a Remedial Plan, 1990. 4adc9c65-a446-f011-877a-0022482c18b0. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/cda95337-be02-4325-b13e-218d441bf8e5/memo-from-brittain-and-stone-to-remedial-team-re-conference-call-on-preparing-a-remedial-plan. Accessed December 04, 2025.
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
SHEFF SCHOOL EQUITY CASE IN CONNECTICUT
January 7, 1990
Memorandum
TO CHARLES WILLIE (CW)
CATHERINE WALSH (CW)
MICHAEL ALVES (MA)
DIEGO CASTELLANOS (DC)
REMEDIAL TEAM FOR DEVELOPING AN EDUCATIONAL PLAN
FROM: JOHN BRITTAIN AND MARTHA STONE
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONFERENCE CALL ON MONDAY, JAN. 7, 1991 AT
1:30 P.M. O'CLOCK TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN PREPARING
A REMEDIAL PLAN
Several of the lawyers in Sheff invite each of you,
schedules permitting, to participate in a conference call. we
want to create a team effort by the experts to maximize the time
and skills of each person. As a result, we seek your response tO
the proposed schedule of activities.
ate willie Alves Walsh Castellanos
Jan,
Days: 1 2 Unavail.? 2
Task: Sketch . Add details Add details Meet w/pls,
options 1-5 on options on options community
* Michael Alves in consultation with Chuck Willie submitted to
the plaintiffs and the lawyers seven linchpins for a remedial
plan. Catherine Walsh furnished additional considerations.
We ask the experts to discuss specific options for Hartfoxd and
the surrounding area with respect to the following:
1. Political governance. Currently, local boards
operate the school districts with funding provided by the local
governing body. Choices: gingle district, existing districts or
new districts.
2. Attendance zones. Presently the district/municipal
boundary line with sub-zones within the district. Options:
metropolitan zoning crossing existing districts or in newly
created districts; or free choice.
a
REMEDIAL TEAM PROPOSED SCHEDULE MEMORANDUM PAGE 2
Jan, = Community outreach, focus groups and data gathering
Feb. on all aspects of education in the region to feed
experts for analysis. The plaintiffs expect to hire a
community organizer in January, and they will assign
part of her or his duties to this effort.
All experts will exchange drafts with each other and
plaintiffs and the lawyers. Feedback on options from
focus groups, plaintiffs, and Sheff attorneys will be
given to experts.
Feb, -
Mar.
Days: 2 2 3 3
Task: Draft plan Draft plan Mtgs w/ Mtgs w/
focus grps. focus grps
- Draft plan Draft plan
April ~
May
Days: 3 2 3 3
Task: Meetings Revise plan Meetings in Mtgs w/
in Htd. with Htd. with relevant
relevant relevant persons
persons persons in Htd,
Revise plan Revise plan Revise
plan
3, Assignment of pupils. Mandatory or voluntary Or
combination.
4, Educational enhancement. Please see the attached
listing of possible options on the last page of this memo.
5. Educational governance. Who will manage the daily
operation of the schools? Centralized or decentralized.
Political governing structure or alternative administration
within the attendance zones.
6. Costs.
7. Implementation.
REMEDIAL TEAM PROPOSED SCHEDULE MEMORANDUM PAGE 3
SUB - 6 6 6 8
TOTAL
ESTIMATE
OF DAYS
PREVIOUS 6°? 8? 47? 0
# OF DAYS
USED
FINAL 12-13 14-13 10-11 8
TOTAL
OF DAYS
onsideration © omponents of
Educational Enhancements
‘ All day kindergarten
Early learning programs/early childhood enters
Two-way bilingual or multi-cultural schools
‘ Specialty Schools: W
w
Language immersion
Montessori
Open education
Continuous progress or gifted and talented specialties
Talent development
Creative arts
Teacher-pupll learning centers
Programs for the academically talented 3
:
3
V
1
)
1
2
3
1
5. Effective schools program
Magtery learning
Elementary counseling
Home lessons
Reading improvement plan
6. Schoecls of emphagis program
7 Staff Development
8. Reduction in pupil/teacher ratios
9, School-based management
10. Elimination of tracking
11. Cooperative learning
12. “Success for All" program - Baltimore (one to one tutoring,
frequent assessment) (see Slavin reports)
13. Afterschool programs
14. Renovation of buildings, construction of new facilities