Mayor Sarno sits down and gets an Update from the Latino Counseling Center on the Rise Academy Mental Health / Social Justice Initiatives

Mayor Sarno states, “I want to applaud CEO/President Jonathan Alicea and his team for the tremendous work they do. Thank you to Baystate Health for this generous grant to help enhance our students at the Rise Academy. Together, along with our Springfield Public Schools and the Springfield Empowerment Zone, we are working hard to prove that a student’s zip code does not define they future. Hard work, a good quality education and the right resources will ensure that all of our students will have the opportunity to learn and grow. When I first took office as Mayor our graduation rate was hovering at just over 50%, and our dropout rate was around 14%. Now we have a graduation rate of 86% and a significantly lower dropout rate of 3%. My administration, working with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, has also invested over $1 billion into building new schools and renovating existing schools – the most in the Commonwealth. However, there is still much work to be done but I am confident that together, with Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall, our dedicated teachers and staff, and all of our community partners, our students and their families will have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, and for those in need of mental health assistance and others in need of a second chance, that they are given that opportunity as well.”