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7/2/2009 |
Mayoral Academies students chosen
CUMBERLAND - The lives of 76 little boys and girls - the college class of 2026 - took off in a new direction Tuesday evening at the Blackstone River Theatre.
They were the lucky ones whose names were pulled from brass bingo drums during a lottery used to fill the first-ever class of the Rhode Island Mayoral Academies called Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley.
Parents and their kindergartners filled the theater eager to learn if they'd be among the first to enroll.
One mom openly prayed at her seat, others clasped hands and hugged children as all 76 names were first pulled from the drums then opened and read aloud by Democracy Prep Harlem founder Seth Andrew and the school's first head of school Jeremy Chiapetta. The two took turns, easily pronouncing the many Hispanic names, and grinning at their new students.
A grandmother leaped up from her seat weeping when her grandchild's name was called.
There were screams and cheers from the lucky ones, while those left behind on a waiting list forced a smile at reassurances that at least some will be enrolled by September.
Mia Youseff was one of the night's winners. She'll be traveling to Valley Falls next fall instead of Pawtucket's Curvin-McCabe public school.
Her mom, Paula Youseff, a native of Lebanon, said she filled out the application after someone knocked on her door and told her about the school.
She likes the idea of a smaller class and loves the uniforms, she said.
Through the luck of the draw, Corine and Paul Assaf of Cumberland are sending son E'tienne to Democracy Prep instead of the B.F. Norton School. "My friend called me," Mrs. Assaf said. "This is my chance to do something better for him and that's important."
Chris and Joyce Butler thought their little Amelia would thrive at Democracy Prep.
"I love the idea of accountability. 'Grow as you go' sounds like a good motto to me. It's important for her to be in a place that feels like community where teachers selected are paid for performance, not because they have tenure. I think it's a great opportunity."
But in the end, they were among the disappointed, wait-listed with 40 or so ahead of them.
Buntings from a dozen or more colleges decorated the Blackstone River Theatre Tuesday, just as homerooms at the Harlem school celebrate the nation's universities.
Andrew told those assembled, "We're about to open one of the best schools in the state. I am really excited to make it possible for your children to get a rigorous, quality school in the Blackstone Valley.
"When you walk across the stage and get your college diplomas as the class of 2026, little will remember it all started with these bingo drums in 2009," he said.
Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee began talking about a new kind of charter school in January of 2007, just after taking office for his third term. He'd tried before to work with the public schools, he said, but couldn't achieve the reform he envisioned.
"What if we started from scratch?" he asked back then.
Tuesday evening, two and one-half years later, he was greeting the first children of the start-from-scratch school.
The eight teachers for this school, based at the Our Lady of Fatima parish, are being hired now.
Although their union leaders vigorously opposed this school, Andrew said 100 teachers turned up for a job fair on short notice last month and 400 more have indicated interest through the school's Web site.
Teachers will be paid their public school salary plus 10 percent. There's another 10 percent available for high performance, Andrew said, as well as generous compensation for handling extracurricular activities. Mayoral Academies teachers give up the universally accepted right to tenure and enrollment in the state pension plan.
Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley is patterned on Democracy Prep Harlem, the high-achieving school of 100 percent disadvantaged and minority students that Andrew founded three years ago.
Andrew announced Tuesday that his 8th-graders just achieved a 98 percent proficiency on the New York math exam.
Andrew contends that his Harlem school demonstrates there's no excuse for low test scores among the disadvantaged students of public schools.
Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley, already called DPBV by its organizers, is the first school that will open under the Rhode Island Mayoral Academies umbrella that was originated by McKee and resident Michael Magee, first director of the town's Office of Children Youth and Learning.
Magee is now RIMA's executive director, and his daughter, Fiona, was among the Cumberland names pulled from the bin.
Also joining the men for the drawing Tuesday was Lincoln's Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond, and state Rep. Kenneth Vaudreuil, who filed the legislation that won General Assembly permission last year and funding this year.
While the Harlem school began with middle school grades, the Blackstone Valley school is beginning with 76 kindergartners.
They won't be the first to graduate, however, because leaders hope to open a middle school in 2010.
While Cumberland's mayor was the driving force behind the school, middle-class Cumberland families were the most disappointed Tuesday evening.
Of the 58 from Cumberland who applied, 36 were left on the waiting list.
This school, that will serve Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland and Lincoln, offered 19 seats for each community. Of those, about 52 percent, or 10 each, were reserved for lower income children in order to reflect the demographic of the overall community.
As it happened, just eight families applied from Lincoln and all were admitted. That town's remaining 11 seats were split among the other three communities through a system that gave Cumberland a total of 22 seats. Pawtucket and Central Falls got 23 seats each.
Central Falls had 24 apply, so just one was wait-listed. Pawtucket had 41 apply, so 18 didn't make it.
Andrew said that in Harlem, 300 applied for the original 100 seats. The second year, 800 applied and the third year saw 1,500 seeking just 80 openings.
"You have the best odds you'll ever have this year," he told parents.
He said of Lincoln's underwhelming response, "This is probably the last year that will happen."
7/12/2009
A lot of money is spent to create a big hype around Charter Schools. Money has been taken out of Public Schools budget to create those Charter Schools. They are privileged over Public Schools. They get all the resources they want. Yet, studies have shown there has been no significant gains in test scores for students attending Charter Schools over Public School students.Parents have no say in the decision-making process in those schools. Where is the beef? Beef up our Publc Schools, reform the governance structure to include teachers, fix our Public Schools instead of sabotaging them, then our success will grow.
7/4/2009
Why does this new school not serve Woonsocket, instead of another charter school serving Pawtucket and Central Falls? I would love the opportunity to put my daughter in a school where the focus is on results but the only 2 elementary charter schools are in Pawtucket and Providence. They save a select few spots for children from other communites across the state. Mayor Menard needs to get on board!
7/4/2009
HELLO!!!!!! EVERYONE, Please understand; Mayors and Coucnils HAVE NO SAY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. They only give them money every year. After that NOTHING NOTHING, no control no say, no involvement AS MANDATED BY STATE LAW!!! Mayor McKee has worked tirelessly to get the State aid to Education fixed. The Cumberland School Administration has DONE NOTHING! The school committee even less! GO TO SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, COUNCIL meetings, ask questions learn and you will be surprised. The fact that Mayor McKee has not been able to help with public education is what moved him to start the idea of the Mayoral Academey. Learn the facts before you incorrectly blame!!
7/3/2009
This concept is new to RI. I suggest we all wait to see the final results. In other states, test scores from these schools are high in comparison to public schools for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fewer restrictions imposed by unions. Give it a chance; then make a judgement. The Mayor has not given up on his responsibility to the current school system. I admire Mayor Mckee, and his team, for setting out a future plan, while others are so mired in the present.
7/3/2009
I think Mckee should concentrate on Cumberland High School, rather than form another school. I don't know about you, but CHS has gone to the dumps since he has been mayor, and it doesn't have any signs of getting better
7/3/2009
I agree with the comments of G and Ellie. Cheryl, another thing -- I don't think you can "let go" students. I may be wrong, but the new Democracy Prep will not be allowed to do that.
7/3/2009
Ellen - Your comments to Mayor McKee couldn't be more wrong. Ever heard of CHS 2010???
7/2/2009
I think the mayoral academy is a good idea! How can you argue with choice?
7/2/2009
I'm a product of public schools and a former public school teacher and all I can say is congratulations to the Mayoral Academy students and their team! For those who gripe that they didn't get in or that the resources should be in zoned schools, please help to fight for more public charter schools. They serve everyone and I'm sure they'd like to serve even more students if possible. Cheryl could not be more wrong, most charters serve MORE disadvantaged and "troubled" students than to the traditional schools. I only wish my students could have gone to an 8 hour a day kindergarten instead of the laughable 2 hours Cumberland offers.
7/2/2009
Thanks Mayor McKee for sucking more local and state tax dollars out for a school system that most of us who live in Cumberland will never have a chance of getting into. If you put as much time into bettering our own school system then maybe it would not be so bad. And by the way how does Mr. Michael Magee, who I am sure is being paid good money, qualify for being disadvantaged? Must have been that lucky ball!!
7/2/2009
Cheryl, I believe in public education 110%. I believe that teachers who mean well are hand-cuffed by administrations. I believe that teachers who mean well are hampered by their own unions. I believe that school committees try to micro-manage to much. I believe that political correctness has slowed education. I believe that teachers have no recourse when students show disrespect. I believe that honors classes are a good thing and should not be eliminated because little Johnny thinks it is unfair that he can't be in the class too. I believe public education has lost its focus and is in real trouble. I believe most teachers truely mean well and don't like being held back.
7/2/2009
Parents on the waiting list just wait a few months until some of the children begin to show separation anxiety from their parents, or bad school behavior starts to show, or even some being diagnosed with a learning disability, or ADHD, then these students will be "let go" from the school which will then allow for students on the waiting list to get in, then the circle goes around again and more students are "let go". This is the problem with charter schools, students are "selected" to attend so when problems arise they don't need to keep the students around. Students with "issues" will bring the test scores down so whay keep them? I am a public school teacher and this past year I had 2 students in my class that were let go from a charter school because of education an emotional issues. Good luck to all of you that don't believe in public education!
7/2/2009
I agree Scott - We are middle class, just above the level that was set to be considered in the "disadvantaged" pool. We got there the other nigh thinking we had a shot at 19 spots, when in reality, we had little shot at all, since 10 spots were already set aside for those in the disadvantaged pool, and then the rest of the applicants were added to those who didn't get chosen from the 10. We're wait-listed, and not holding our breath.
7/2/2009
I wonder how many "illegal" aliens were the lucky few to have their names pulled?
7/2/2009
I am glad to SEE progress on the education front. I am however disappointed in the continual setback for the hardworking middle class in our state and country as a whole. If you are white and live paycheck to paycheck and fulfill your responsibilities you are already at a disadvantage. I just wish my daughter had an EQUAL chance to take part in this great educational effort. Maybe some day.
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