NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The education commissioner of Massachusetts announced Tuesday that Parker Elementary School in New Bedford is exiting receivership. Previously considered an “underperforming” school, Parker Elementary is back under local leadership after the state found significant improvement to student test scores. “It’s very welcome news,” New Bedford Public Schools Superintendent Andrew O’Leary said. “It’s a real credit to the staff at Parker this year and over the years, all the way through receivership, a very difficult process for all the staff and leadership to navigate.” The school had been under state supervision since 2013 after being deemed “chronically underperforming” based on test scores. State education officials now say Parker has demonstrated sustained academic improvement, and will be back under New Bedford Public Schools leadership moving forward. “I do recall when the school went into receivership, that wasn’t such a welcome development,” O’Leary said. “But the state accountability system is there, it sets goals to navigate, and over the years, the staff and the students have met those goals.” Even with the positive news, O’Leary said the district is still considering a major change to the current state of Parker. “What’s really missing in the city of New Bedford is an early childhood center,” O’Leary said. “So our plan that we’ve been upfront and transparent about is siting the early childhood center at the current Parker Elementary building.” Parker Elementary School PTO President Susanna Araujo, whose three children have all attended the school, said she is upset by the potential change. “This should be a time of celebrating, but instead we’ve become in a state of mourning,” Araujo said. “We want to keep it the way it is, and you don’t fix what’s not broken.” “My daughter already cried, she doesn’t want to see Parker close,” Araujo added. “My son doesn’t really know what he wants to do…This proposal hanging over us, I wish it never existed.” O’Leary anticipates a school committee vote will be held in December to determine the future of Parker Elementary. Categories: Massachusetts, New Bedford, News