Against All Odds (Education)

Springfield, MA schools were impacted by the city’s $41 million deficit and EF-3 tornado. Learn in this Against All Odds article how the city made a comeback, using technology and data-driven processes to revitalize its economy, neighborhoods, and K-12 school system.

In this Government Finance Review article, T.J. Plante, the City of Springfield’s chief administrative and financial officer, describes the city’s journey from a crumbling community with a massive deficit to a revitalized and rebuilt city with a $50 million surplus.

He credits public-private collaboration, process improvements, and implementing financial and workforce management solutions with providing the tools that have enabled Springfield to:

• Gain control of labor costs through real-time visibility into workforce data
• Rebuild its city buildings and schools with FEMA funds following a devastating tornado
• Revitalize the public school system to improve student outcomes and graduation rates
• Smoothly transition students to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic because of prior technology investments
• Restore neighborhoods and city residents’ confidence and pride in their community

Download this article to learn more about how the City of Springfield has overcome devastating events over nearly two decades to complete a remarkable turnaround. It’s a story that every community and school system in American can learn from.