960 Mai n Street Hartf ord CT 06103 www. hartf ordschool s.

org







Hartford Publ i c School s Ends Partnershi p
Wi th FUSE Charter Organi zati on

(Saturday, June 21, 2014) Hartford Public Schools has officially terminated a
2012 three-year memorandum of understanding that gave the Family Urban Schools
of Excellence (FUSE) charter organization management control of Milner Elementary
School for the purpose of raising student achievement.
Special Assistant to the Hartford Board of Education Dr. Jacqueline Jacoby
served notice of termination late Friday in a brief letter to Michael Sharpe, the CEO of
FUSE.
FUSE began managing Milner in 2012 after approval of the State Department
of Education Commissioner's Network, a program that granted low-performing
schools millions of dollars in additional state funding to implement three-to-five year
turnaround plans.
Hartford Public Schools and FUSE had discussed an agreement that the third
and final year of the MOU would involve returning the school to local control with
FUSE performing limited functions. But the Hartford Board of Education tabled a vote
on the proposal at its June 17, 2014, regular meeting.
After further consideration it was determined that Hartford Public Schools
would take full operational control with no further role for FUSE, effective July 1,
2014.
"Returning Milner to full Hartford Public Schools' control was appropriate at
this time given the talent and experience and of the school principal and
commitment of its staff" Dr. Jacoby said. "We are fortunate that Milner Elementary
School will remain in the hands of Principal Karen Lott, an exceptional leader and
experienced school turnaround specialist. I want to assure students, parents and the
Milner community that we had already planned for resuming full control of Milner
and we are ready to do so. Principal Lott and her staff will have the district's full
support in implementing the next step of Miner's turnaround."

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David Medina
Director of External Communications
Tel: (860)695-8862
MEDID001@hartfordschools.org