Charter school extended five years in McKeesport
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Five years ago, the McKeesport Area School District fought to keep the proposed charter school Propel McKeesport out of the district, pushing the issue all the way to Commonwealth Court, where a ruling forced the district to grant the charter.
But two weeks ago, when the school's charter was up for a vote again, there was hardly a discussion and the board unanimously voted to keep the school in the district for another five years.
Board President Lori Spando said this is largely because the district would need grounds to deny the charter and the school has fulfilled its obligation to the district.
Ms. Spando and members James Brown, David Donato, Barbara Stevenson, Steven Kondrosky, Wayne Washowich and Joe Lopretto voted to renew the charter. Vice President Joseph Chiaverini, Christopher Halaszynski and Dave Donato were absent.
Ms. Spando said that she was one of the board members who resisted when the school applied for the charter more than five years ago, though she doesn't recall specifically why.
"But now I see what Propel has done, and I just feel that the parents should have a choice now," she said.
The charter school has been highly successful since it opened. A few hundred students from McKeesport and neighboring districts are vying to get into the school, which added an eighth-grade class this year. Each of the classes' 40 slots are filled by lottery.
Last March, the school was recognized for its outstanding test scores by the national organization New Leaders for New Schools.
The school's test scores from the 2008-09 school year are on par with more affluent districts, such as Fox Chapel and Upper St. Clair, even though 85 percent of its students use the free or reduced lunch program.
In math, nearly 95 percent of students were deemed proficient and around three-quarters were proficient in reading. All fifth- and sixth-graders scored proficient or above in math, said Principal Tina Chekan.
The educators there credit the success to highly individualized instruction. About 90 percent of a student's school day is spent in small groups and all classrooms have at least two instructors, usually one teacher and an assistant, Ms. Chekan said.
"Our teachers work collaboratively all the time to really reflect on best instructional practices," she said.
Propel draws about 54 percent of its students from McKeesport Area, which failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress this year.
Superintendent Michael Brinkos pointed out, however, that many of the failures came with older grades, which the charter school doesn't serve.
"I do not believe it is my responsibility to compare the two systems," Dr. Brinkos said. "I have a responsibility to make sure our system is the best that it can be.
"I would caution that people would try to say that one program is better than the other program based on test scores."
The relationship between Propel and McKeesport Area's administration remains lukewarm. Jeremy Resnick, Propel's executive director, admits it could be better.
When he founded Propel schools, he hoped they'd be "a catalyst for the transformation of public schools."
But he added that he wanted to see an "exchange" of ideas between the two systems.
"We'd like to increase the amount of dialogue that goes on between teachers, between principals and most importantly, to the children's benefit," he said.
If anything, Dr. Brinkos said Propel creates greater competition for the district.
"I believe that intent was to provide school choice and also to promote healthy competition in education for students," he said.
First Published October 8, 2009 5:53 am
