Parents, teachers, volunteers and administrators turned out in big numbers Wednesday night for a public meeting in Wilmington on the possible closure of Reach Academy and Gateway Lab charter schools.
Passionate parents and others lined up to deliver public comments on the recommendation by the State Charter School Accountability Committee last month that neither school have its charter renewed over academic issues.
The hearing room in the Carvel State Building was over its capacity of 182 people, so Jennifer Nagourney from the State Department of Education's Charter School Office asked parents from Gateway Lab to leave while it heard testimony about Reach Academy.
Reach Academy School Leader Tara Allen opened the hearing by submitting a petition with over 300 signatures to keep her charter open. In her comments, she said Reach had been in this position before, and she’d made heartfelt promises about improving the school academically, promises which were kept.
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"We showed you that we could and we did achieve and progress," said Allen. "So a year later I’m not gonna stand here with heartfelt and sensitive. Not tonight."
Parents of Reach students pleaded with officials to keep the school open, saying their children have flourished in its environment and could flounder at a public school. One little girl broke down in tears, saying she’d gone to Reach since kindergarten.
Outside, parents from Gateway Lab milled around and talked about what they would do if their charter school, which focuses on special needs students with learning disabilities and other challenges such as autism, were to close down.
"He has not done well anywhere else. Except for here. Um, I would consider a move to North Carolina or Ohio, if the need, you know, arises," said Valerie Ward, who's son attends Gateway.
During its hearing time, Gateway advocates argued that standardized testing was not the right way to evaluate students with learning disabilities who have complex needs. They also argued that even given that flawed model, test scores had improved.
Gateway Lab’s head of school Catherine Dolan commended her faculty and staff for serving students with such diverse and intense needs. Dolan added it is obvious that Gateway teachers are extremely competent.
"I know it, the kids know it, their doctors know it, their parents know it, 33 of our legislators know it, and tonight I want Secretary Mark Murphy and the state board of education to know it," said Dolan.
Gateway has also received letters of support from Lt. Gov. and Attorney General elect Matt Denn (D) and State Rep. Melanie George Smith (D-Bear) and State Sen. Bryan Townsend (D-Newark), suggesting it is premature to close it, especially considering the lack of options for its students should it shutdown.
Stakeholders have two more days to submit written comments on the two schools. A final decision on the two schools’ fates will be made at next Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting in Dover.