Local residents discuss charter school proposal

The parents and teachers who gathered in St. Mary's Church at 39th and Locust Streets on Monday night were concerned with more than vending ordinances and local crime. In the wake of Governor Tom Ridge's allocation of $1.4 million to plan and implement charter schools, the group of University City residents met to discuss developing a charter school in the area. Mark Basnage, Facilitator of the University City Charter School Planning Group, organized the meeting to increase community interest in creating an alternative public school for local youth. Freed of many state mandates, each charter school has its own mission statement designed by the citizens who found it. The schools have limited enrollment but are not permitted to have entrance exams or charge tuition fees. They are also allowed to have multiple sponsoring agencies, including private companies. There are currently 500 such deregulated public schools in 26 states across the nation. According to Joe Nathan -- Director of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota and author of Charter Schools -- the major advantage of charter schools over regular public schools is that they are responsible for improving achievement. "All public schools should be held accountable," Nathan said. "But be prepared for a strong political battle." University City resident Mary Tharp -- who worked in a failed attempt to establish alternative schooling in West Philadelphia in the 1960s -- warned attendees of the opposition they are likely to face from the Pennsylvania State Legislature. The U.S. Congress is currently discussing Senate Bill 999, which would increase charter school funding, provide waivers for mandates, and give independence to the schools through the creation of a state appeals board. But in th past, local charter schools have folded quickly and encountered vehement opposition from the state legislature. Nathan also attempted to dispel the myth that creating a charter school would undermine the efforts of established schools. "Thoughtful, well designed competition can help improvement," he said. And University City resident and parent Asantewaa Strothiers-Thompson agreed that the audience members already harmed the area public schools by sending their children to schools outside the district. Only one parent said she permitted her children to attend University City's Wilson Elementary School. Alex Violin -- a district teacher -- said the charter school would provide her with increased flexibility and improve working conditions. Some previously established charter schools do not have a principal, while others pay their faculty much above the local mean. While teachers are allowed to organize into unions, they usually do not choose to do so. Most attendees supported the continuing efforts to create a charter school in the community, but some voiced concerns. Audience members wanted to ensure that the proposed school would reflect the ethnic diversity of University City and would give priority to accepting district students. "It's no good having a great school if our children can't go to it," one concerned parent said.