District releases second progress report

Nearing his one-year anniversary as Superintendent of Camden Schools, Paymon Rouhanifard released a second progress report this week, describing improvements his office has made district-wide.

The report, released by the district, includes launched and completed initiatives to improve safety, infrastructure, teacher and principal training, student learning and pre-k enrollment.

Here's a look at some of the announced improvements:

On the topic of safety, the district re-trained all school safety officers, revised a suspension policy to cut down on the number of 10-day suspensions, revived a Safe Corridors program and installed additional cameras and security equipment.

Many schools received upgraded technology and wireless expansion, the report said.

Pre-k enrollment is also up 16 percent and expected to reach 93 percent of all possible students by September.

The district reorganized its teacher coaching program and also enrolled principals in a "principal's academy."

A major change is the addition of three new schools to the district.  Kipp, Mastery, and Uncommon Schools will all open renaissance schools in the city. The schools will be indepndently led by the non-profits but under the district's umbrella.

Rouhanifard has said he wants to create a universal enrollment system that would include public, charter and renaissance schools, similar to what Newark's district uses. The system would not start until the 2015-2016 school year and provide a detailed catalog with information on school performance to parents and families.

The full report is on the district's website here.

- Julia Terruso