State Board of Education in Delaware is now going over Charter School renewals. Seven charters are up for renewal this year. Jennifer Nagourney, director of DE Charter School Office giving introduction. Talking about the purpose of Delaware Charter School Accountability Committee.
The order of renewals will be as follows: DE Academy of Public Safety & Security, Eastside Charter, Family Foundations Academy, Gateway Lab School, Las Americas Aspiras, Odyssey Charter School, and Reach Academy For Girls.
First up: Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security. Recommendation of CSAC: approve with conditions, Murphy: renewal, State Board: Passed 7-0, but President Dr. Gray said yes with reservations.
Eastside Charter School. Recommendation of CSAC: approve, Murphy: renew, along w/modification to give applicants withing a 5 mile radius of the school preference over those outside of the zone, State Board: renewed.
Family Foundations Academy (this should be good!). Recommendation of CSAC: approve w/conditions: all board members must get board training, must resolve all compliance issues by end of February 2015, Murphy: Department has received 200 page report regarding gross financial misconduct, Board of FFA asking for 60 day waiver to determine renewal to review, State Board: Heffernan, very disappointed report coming in at the 11th hour, Blowman w/DOE stated 60 days brings them till January 5th, 60 days after CSAC recommendation, Heffernan: Choice can be extended to districts due to good cause, Johnson: asked about lottery dates, said March 20th is date parents need to let charter schools know if accept or not, Heff: trying to make the best of a bad situation, Nagourney: DOE just got forensic audit from Auphsite last Tuesday and immediately had questions, new audit called into question audit by Auphsite, Dr. Gray: not doing anything right now, will take time to investigate and lots of questions that need answers.
Gateway Lab School. CSAC Recommendation: do not renew. Murphy: We received many public comments during process. CSAC’s preliminary report and subsequent report bound to use framework process, would be inapproiate to decline renewal but academic framework gives pause for concern, will not accept CSAC’s recommendation w/condition- must meet standards by end of 2015-2016 school year, if doesn’t will put on formal review, Board: going over academic framework and how to compare Gateway students to other schools, (sorry for the delay folks, I know you want to know, me too!), Board member Patrick Heffernan messing this up, basically saying school hasn’t been efficient and proficient, Dr. Gray doesn’t necessarily agree with him, went over something called a DASL report in relation to other schools, Gateway not rated as high, Coverdale brought up comparison metrics, Heff questioning why final recommendation for Gateway says revocation but other ones say formal review, Murphy going over his recommendation again, said will seek revocation through formal review, Board Vote: Gateway renewed, vote count 4 yes, 3 no.
Updated: sorry, had to rush out due to an issue, but here’s how the others went down:
Las Americas Aspiras: renewed
Odyssey: renewed
Reach Academy for Girls: not renewed, will close at the end of this school year.
Has a decision been made for Gateway yet?
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Not yet, going in alphabetical order, will be 3rd or 4th I believe.
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DE Acad. of Safety & Security (now), Eastside, Family Foundations Acad. (should be interesting), Gateway, Las Americas Aspiras, Odyssey, and Reach.
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Approved.
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Thank You, Kevin. We, at GLS, know that with our conditional renewal, there is much work to be done. Kilroy says we got a little “CPR.” And it’s true. The vote for our renewal was so very close. But, we’ve now opened a greater, deeper, more rigorous conversation about special education in our little state. (yes, JY, I used the word “rigorous” just for you.) And while we will pursue that conversation, I do want to extend my gratitude to those who have supported Gateway regardless of the educational camp to which you align yourselves.
So, thank you.
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