—
CRESAPTOWN — Allegany County Board of Education members have too many unanswered questions about a proposed new charter school to allow it to open next fall.
The board voted 5-0 Monday night to deny the application of Mountain Maryland Public Charter School, which had planned to use the second and third floors of the former Memorial Hospital to teach 110 children in grades K-4, eventually expanding to K-8.
Superintendent David Cox made public his recommendation to deny the charter school’s application last week, after an exhaustive review by staff.
“I think one of the take-aways is how complex public education has become,” said board member Mike Llewellyn, who made the motion to deny the charter school application.
“I think it’s just a big monster to tackle. The effort to tackle it was valiant. Unfortunately, when we start talking about public funds and we start talking about kids, I need more certainty.”
Concerns voiced by board members Monday night involved shortcomings in the proposed school’s curriculum, transportation plan, facilities plan and safety — all points outlined in Cox’s 78-page recommendation.
Top administrators for Allegany County Public Schools, who spent more than 1,000 hours reviewing the charter school plan, gave it a score of 15.6 out of 100, using a rubric designed by the Maryland Charter School Network.
“I think they did fairly evaluate the application, and I think they identified the areas they felt were weak in terms of providing the same types of services that are provided to children in the public schools,” said board vice president Tom Striplin, who pointed out several “deficiencies that would need to be addressed” in order for a charter to be granted.
The board discussed the charter school application for about an hour during a work session prior to a 7 p.m. business meeting, when the vote was taken. None of the charter school founders spoke, and there was no dialogue during the public meeting.
Mountain Maryland PCS’s Board of Directors had expected to have an opportunity to discuss board members’ concerns prior to a vote, said Veronica Mingolelli, chairwoman. Cox and several staff members toured the school’s proposed facility earlier this month, and Cox met with founders to discuss curriculum issues, as well.
“It was a little surprising that the questions that the board members had hadn’t been brought up in a different format prior to vote night,” Mingolelli said. “Because there are answers to these questions in our plan and in charter school precedent and practice statewide.”
Disappointed by Monday’s vote, charter school founders — most of whom are parents of school-age children — are considering filing an appeal with the Maryland State Board of Education, Mingolelli said.
The state has 42 charter schools, which serve more than 11,000 children, according to the Maryland Charter School Network. Like other charter schools in Maryland, Mountain Maryland PCS would be tuition-free and have open admission. Its curriculum would be built around “project learning” or learning through real life experience.
In other business Monday night, the board said goodbye to two members who won’t be returning in the new year.
Board President Karen Treber lost her re-election bid in November, and Striplin, who ran for county commissioner, did not seek re-election. Their replacements — Ed Root and Laurie Marchini — will be sworn into office in January.
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com.
Education
Board denies charter school plan
- Education
-
-
Allegany College of Maryland names 313 to the dean's list
CUMBERLAND — Three hundred and thirteen students were named to the Allegany College of Maryland dean’s list for the spring 2013 semester, according to David Hinds, ACM vice president of instructional affairs.
-
Potomac State Provost’s List for spring 2013 announced
KEYSER, W.Va. — According to Potomac State College Campus Provost Leonard Colelli, there were 115 students placed on the provost’s list for the 2013 spring semester at Potomac State College of West Virginia University.
To be eligible for the provost’s list, a student must earn a 3.7 to 4.0 grade point average while maintaining a full-time student status. Those students who earned a place on the Provost’s List include:
-
240 students on PSC dean’s list for spring 2013
KEYSER, W.Va. — Potomac State College of West Virginia University is pleased to announce that 240 students have been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2013 semester.
-
Allegany College of Maryland graduates 393
CUMBERLAND — Allegany College of Maryland graduated 393 students for the third-largest class in its history at recent 51st commencement exercises on the Cumberland campus. The graduates earned a total of 473 associate degrees and certificates.
-
Frostburg State University
-
Allegany College of Maryland
-
Students named to Frostburg State University's fall dean's list
FROSTBURG — The following students from the area have been named to the dean’s list at Frostburg State University in recognition of outstanding academic achievement for the fall 2012 semester. To be eligible, a student must undertake a minimum of 12 credit hours and earn a cumulative semester grade point average of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
-
Allegany College of Maryland graduates 211 at fall commencement
CUMBERLAND — Allegany College of Maryland graduated 211 students at fall commencement exercises on the Cumberland campus. The graduates earned a total of 249 associate degrees and certificates.
-
Students receive scholarships from Frostburg State University
FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University announces the following area students have received scholarships for study at the University.
-
Local Students Earn Bachelor's Degrees at Frostburg State University
FROSTBURG, MD (07/11/2012)(readMedia)-- At the 140th commencement ceremonies at Frostburg State University in May, the following local area residents were among the nearly 700 total candidates for degrees.
- More Education Headlines
-
Allegany College of Maryland names 313 to the dean's list
