New Liberty principal presents innovation-plan renewal, highlights rising graduation rates and proposes evening 'New Liberty at Night' program

Principal Jamal Kama presented the reauthorization proposal for New Liberty Innovation School’s innovation plan to the Salem School Committee on June 1, outlining a five‑year renewal through the next school‑year cycle and citing substantial gains in graduation, attendance and reductions in dropout and chronic absenteeism.

Kama said the school’s four‑year graduation rate rose sharply from earlier years to 69% last year, with a projection “to be around 71% this year.” He said five‑year completion rates similarly improved from about 20% previously to roughly 55.6% last year and an anticipated near‑70% five‑year rate going forward. On attendance, Kama said daily attendance rose from about 64% to roughly 86% and chronic absenteeism decreased from about 82% to 67%, while the school’s dropout rate had declined from earlier double‑digit figures to around 9% most recently. (These figures were reported by Kama from the school’s internal review during the presentation.)

Kama framed the renewal around a “diploma plus” model that couples diplomas with industry certifications and transferable college credits, and described efforts to formalize internships and create clear career pathways (business and engineering were cited as early targets). He told the committee the plan aims to launch one pathway per year with full integration by year five.

“Students are coming in, they’re engaged and they’re ready to learn,” Kama said, adding that the school is preparing to move from its current mall location into a new space and called the relocation a “new beginning for New Liberty.”

A central proposal in the plan is a PM program—referred to in the presentation as “New Liberty at Night”—designed for over‑age, under‑credited students to accelerate learning and allow them to reintegrate into AM schedules. Kama described a mixed model of three in‑person sessions and two remote learning days, cohorts of roughly 16–20 students, and staffing made up of stipend positions open to teachers in the school and district. He said the program’s staffing and launch are contingent on securing district funding or external grants.

Committee members asked about collaboration with Salem High School, supports needed from the committee and the risk of staff burnout for evening instruction. Member Miranda asked whether Salem High had opportunities to share space or resources; Kama said there had been conversations with Salem High administrators to identify students and coordinate support. Members also pressed on funding and timelines; district participants said existing grants (including a Reed Trust grant used to support internships) and outreach to potential funders such as a local bar foundation are helping, but that the PM program was likely to be treated as a planning and transitional year before any full launch because the current operational budget did not include the program.

Member Miranda thanked Kama for the presentation and called the school’s progress “impressive.” A committee member raised staff‑burnout concerns about evening schedules; Kama said the intent is to recruit part‑time or district teachers and partners so the burden does not fall solely on existing full‑time staff.

The presentation closed with committee discussion about using New Liberty as a pilot to surface innovations and practices that could be adopted districtwide. No formal vote on the innovation‑plan reauthorization occurred at the meeting; the session recorded only motions and roll‑call votes to open and close the public hearing and to adjourn.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the committee will review the written plan in the packet and the school and district will continue grant outreach and planning for the PM program and pathway integration, with a likely planning year before any full operational launch.