York City’s New Charter Middle School Delayed
By Andrew Shaw, The York Dispatch, Pa.
Jul. 31–The state Board of Appeals hearing on Lincoln Charter School’s middle school application has been delayed a month.
That will force parents who had intended to send their children to the proposed York City school scrambling for other options.
“We’re not going to open in the fall. Assuming we get approval, we’ll open as soon as we can,” said Daniel Fennick, the charter school attorney. Early January is a possible date, he said.
The York City School Board had voted 5-4 to oppose the charter earlier this year. Charter schools are publicly funded, independently operated schools; Lincoln already has an elementary school in operation in York City.
Lincoln officials, confident the state would overturn the city board’s decision, had planned on opening the middle school by September. A hearing was scheduled for this past Tuesday, which would have given the school just enough time to hire staff and get classrooms ready. But the state had to postpone the hearing until Aug. 26 because of a scheduling conflict. Even if the charter is approved, the school likely can’t open until mid-year, at the earliest.
That will put a wrench into hiring staff, Fennick said.
“It’s a problem hiring teachers (mid-year),” Fennick said.
Tom Foust, York City school board vice president who is opposed to the charter school, said he hopes Lincoln immediately notifies parents the school won’t open as expected so those parents can register students for a York City school.
“I would think it would
be in everybody’s best interest to make sure parents know what the circumstances are,” Foust said.
If parents who counted on Lincoln don’t have their child enrolled in another school this fall, the student will rack up unlawful absences, Foust said.
“You better get your child enrolled in the York City School District,” Foust said. “It’s very unlikely (Lincoln) will be able to open up immediately.”
Fennick said the charter school board will discuss the situation and parent communication at its Thursday meeting.
Schools properly staffed: Although the charter middle school is expected to have a few hundred students, York City Acting Superintendent Sharon Miller said the district already planned on having those students in city schools this school year.
That should help avoid staffing and classroom space shortages if students show up who otherwise would be at Lincoln.
“It will not cause any disruption,” said Miller, who said she looks forward to having more time with the potential charter school students. “We want all our York City students attending (district schools).”
Location, location: Lincoln officials now are considering a permanent site near Crossroads Counseling Services, 1195 Roosevelt Ave., which Fennick said has “plenty of space” to build a new school.
Lincoln’s elementary school is on West King Street.
A Ridge Avenue building, now used by Manito Day Treatment Service, likely will be used as a temporary home, Fennick said. Foust said Lincoln better have all its location issues resolved by the August hearing if it expects to win the appeal.
“This puts them in a very awkward situation,” Foust said of the delay.
Fennick, however, said the delay will give the Lincoln board more time to work on the school’s facility issues.
“Nothing is more complicated as a result” of the delay,” Fennick said.
— Reach Andrew Shaw at 505-5431 or ashaw@yorkdispatch.com.
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