Citing everything from fears of gang violence to a drain on state aid, officials last night's blasted plans for proposed charter school.
City and state officials, parents, school members and police packed Waltham Public Library for the chance to speak at the podium against Rediscovery Inc.'s proposal which would bring at-risk youth to the city.
The Waltham-based organization submitted an application on Nov. 14 to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create the Rediscovery Academy Charter School with an enrollment capacity of 220 somewhere in Waltham in 2010.
Waltham Police warned that the charter school would bring more crime to the city.
Detective Patrick Hart Jr. said that since 2006 there has been at least 60 incidents at a Rediscovery Inc. group home, at 262 Crescent St., that required police action.
"The increase I've seen with gang-related violence (in Waltham the last few years) is alarming and a lot of that has to do with the clients at the Rediscovery House," he said to a panel of three members from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Hart said 11 members of the group home are "confirmed gang members."
"What I mean is they've actually told me they are in gangs," he said, presenting photographs of weapons confiscated from the group home.
Hart said one of Rediscovery's clients is a youth with 54 criminal charges on his record including assault with attempt to murder.
Maria Vertkin, who works as a counselor at the group home, defended the group home's residents.
"I see these guys day to day and I'm very honored to know each and every one of them," she said. "They are so much more than pictures of weapons."
Jorge Delgado is a former tenant of the home. He is currently homeless.
"I'm one of those disconnected youth ... in my understanding, the police are here to protect and serve, not just to protect," he said. "I'm not a murderer. I'm on a youth coalition. I was also a member of the U.S. Marine Corps."
Delgado went on to praise the work done by Rediscovery Inc. and spoke in favor of the proposal.
"These kids, they are willing students. I have faced many adversities," he said. "In doing so I would have loved for these programs to have existed."
Some Waltham Public School officials said the proposal mirrors educational services already offered by the district. They argued that the charter school is inadequate to serve the needs of the population it hopes to help.
Assistant Superintendent Alexander Wyeth said after reviewing credentials for the teaching staff for the school, he felt the teachers lacked experience.
School Committee Member Margaret Donnelly said the structure of the proposed school would give charter schools a bad name and set a precedent for potential charter schools in the future.
Greg DeMeo, director of Career and Technology Education for Waltham Public Schools, said he was concerned "Waltham will be a dumping ground for students no one else wants."
City and state officials mostly opposed the proposal based on what they described as unfair funding mechanisms behind it that would financially impact the city.
"I personally oppose charter schools and the primary reason is the funding formula which we've been fighting for a number of years in the Legislature," said state Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham. "In the next fiscal year, we will probably be seeing a decrease in local aid (from the state) ... there's only so much one community can take."
The mayor echoed Stanley's position. She argued the city school budget could be negatively affected "by draining several million dollars in state aid."
"The Waltham school budget and transportation budget will definitely be impacted negatively here," Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said.
According to a document created by Waltham school Business Manager Leanne Wilcinski, the school districts must provide transportation to charter school students and for each child a Commonwealth Charter School enrolls, it receives a tuition amount from the state equal to a per-pupil amount calculated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The state then deducts the same amount from what they send to the district's state aid account.
During an interview two weeks ago, Danielle Ferrier, the executive director of Rediscovery Inc., said she doesn't believe the proposal would have a major financial effect on the city because the school will focus on working with at-risk youth spread across the state.
Last night, Ferrier said there is a great need to help the students the proposed school hopes to serve.
"I think it is true, a small handful of students will come from Waltham," she said. "Although I recognize the community shouldn't be forced to deal with it, some community has to deal with it."
Rediscovery Academy Charter School is one of three Massachusetts charter school proposals recently submitted to the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson J.C. Considine said officials from his department will review comments from the meeting. In January, state education officials will interview the charter school founders. In February, Commissioner Mitchell Chester will make a recommendation to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which is the charter granting authority. The board will then vote on granting any new charters.
Written comment regarding the proposals may be submitted until Jan. 5 to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Charter School Office, 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148 or by e-mail to charterschools@doe.mass.edu.
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com.
