Accusations of ethics violations, hints of conspiracy, charges of elitism and complaints of bullying laced a public hearing on Tuesday over a proposed charter school in Northern Berkshire County.
Nearly 100 people attended the two-hour meeting, hosted by the department of education and held at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield. The purpose was to hear public comment on charter school proposals throughout the state, including one slated for North Adams.
Many local educators, including teachers, superintendents and school board members, turned out to voice opposition to the plan, arguing that it would take vital dollars away from the public school system.
"This is the wrong place and the wrong time and the wrong proposal for Berkshire County," said North Adams school district superintendent Joseph Rogge.
A group of charter school advocates have applied to the state seeking a charter for the Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Academy. The school would be based in North Adams and would serve the Northern Berkshire region, eventually offering grades 6-12. The total planned enrollment, after the initial five years, would be 308 students, according to the application.
"The Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter School will provide a unique opportunity for middle and high school students who benefit from smaller learning environments and different approaches to learning," states the proposal. "The integration of arts and technology into a rigorous college preparatory curriculum will reach students who are otherwise disengaged from school, helping them become independent thinkers, dynamic workers and active citizens."
Opponents say that the proposal offers little that the public schools don't, and that it would cripple the public schools by drawing funds out of the system.
Charter schools emerged from the 1993 state Education Reform law. The schools, which are operated by private groups, receive public funds, on a per student basis, if they meet the criteria for a state charter. Many charter schools currently operate throughout the state. Twice before, however, bids for charter schools in Berkshire County have been rejected by the state.
Pam Johnson, a founding board member for the proposed charter school, said that many students would thrive by receiving greater individual attention. "The size of the school matters - it matters a lot," she said. "Teachers [at the charter school] will really get to know their students. No one will get lost."
Marc Kenen, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter School Association, said that charter schools have a track record of getting better results from students who traditionally struggle. Several proponents suggested that the charter school could be a haven for "at risk" students.
Opponents, however, rejected the idea that at-risk students would do better out of the public school system. "I don't buy that," said North Adams school committee member Sheila Dassatti. "In essence, [the proposed charter school]… would do more harm than good."
North Adams Mayor John Barrett charged that state board of education chairman James Peyser had violated state ethics law by actively lobbying for support for the Berkshire charter school proposal. The mayor called for an investigation by the state ethics board.
Opponents also lobbed the "elitism" buzzword several times, arguing that the charter school would be a boon for some parents as a publicly funded private school. Hoosac Valley High School principal Deborah Carter even hinted at conspiracy. "This is an attempt by the Williams College community to have at their disposal a private school financed by public dollars," she said.
Ralph Fahnestock of North Adams, an educator and charter school supporter, expressed disgust at the "reprehensible" tactics of opponents. "The last time checked bullying played no part in… democratic governance," he said.
The panel will host another public hearing on Wednesday, January 22 at the Minuteman Regional High School, 758 Marrett Road, Lexington and on Thursday, January 23 at the Boston Public Library, Mezzanine Conference Room, Copley Square, 700 Boylston Street, Boston .
Following the hearing process, the board of education will interview applicants. The commissioner of education will make recommendations to the board in February, and then the board of education will vote on whether or not to grant charters.
In the 2002-03 school year, 46 charter schools (40 Commonwealth and 6 Horace Mann) are open and together enroll more than 17,000 students from more than 200 school districts. An additional 12,000 students are currently on waiting lists. Six Commonwealth charters are scheduled to open in the fall of 2003.
A total of 11 charter school applications are under review by the board of education this year, including the Berkshire proposal. Six proposals are for schools in Boston, and one each in Haverhill, North Adams, Salem, Waltham and Worcester.
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Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.
iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.
Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.
The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.
"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."
It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.
"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.
Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.
"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."
Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.
"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."
He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.
"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.
Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
