|i Charter Schools Institute '0 State University of New York KING CENTER CHARTER SCHOOL FINAL CHARTERED AGREEMENT Sec. 2852(5) Submission to the Board of Regents VOLUME ^LOF^^ REDACTED COP 74 North Pearl Street, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12207 tel: (518) 433-8277 fax: (518) 427-6510 e-mail: [email protected] www.newyorkcharters.org ^ ^^I^T^^OOOI^^^IT^I^O^^^T ^ The process the scbooi^ill follow to promote parental and staff involvement in the go^ernanoe and administration of tbe charter school Toencourage the participation of parents and staff in the governance ofthe r^ing^enter^harter school, the school director,lead teacher and co^chairs ofthe parent association atthel^ingOenterOharter school shall serve as E^officio membersoftheBoardofOirectors. ^ ^idence of community support for tne proposed cnarterscboolD including documentation of sufficient interest by parents and students to meet the schools enrollment targets^ i^etnods or strategies to be used to gauge community support of the charter school ^ttacbment^l^ In ^ebruary1998 the Buffalo common council approvedameasureaskingthe ^tateforpermission to createapilotcharterschool program. The concept had the backing ofthe Mayor and the Board of Education, and in Januaryl998 Mayor Masiello declaredthatthe^ingOrbanl^ifeOenter^ouldbeBuffalosfirstcharterschool^see attachment ^I^.Thefollo^inglettersofendorsementforthe^ingOenter^harter school application are also attached^ Anthony ^ioia, Buffalo Businessman ^evin^lelfer,Buffalo common council Member l9obe^J.^resse,^ttomey^ith^liscock^Barclay,^^ Anthony Masiello, Mayor ofthe^fty of Buffalo James^^itts, BuffaloOommoncouncil president ^ Oescription of the programmatic and fiscal impact of the establisbment of this cbarter school on existing public and nonpublic schools in the community attachment ^1^^ Inaschool district of more than^,OOOstudents,acharter school ^ith not more than 100 students should have no significant programmatic orfiscal impact. There are eleven public schools in the general vicinity ofthe ^ingl^rbanl^ife center serving ^ approximately 4740 students in kindergarten through4th grade (see Attachments!^ foramapshowingthelocationsofthe eleven schools). Ifthemaximumenrollmentof ^00 students atthe^ingOenterOharter^choolallcamefromthisarea^andthisis unli^ely^ltwouldimpact^Bl^ofthe total l^indergartenthrough4th grade school population in the eleven schools. It should have littler if any^ impact on non^public schools since there are none in the general vicinity ofthe^ingOrbanl^ife center, ^here will be some limited programmatic impactfor school ^Owhich has housed its school^0 Annex atthel^ingOrban^ife^enterfacility since September ^^.^hetermsofthe lease agreement betweenthe Buffalo ^ublic^choolsandthe ^ingOrbant^ifeOenter allow eitherpartyto terminate the agreement attheendofthe current school yearby notifying the other party in writing of its intentions by Februarys ofthe current school year. It is our intention to issue this notification assoon as we receive approval of our application foraschool charter ^he principal at ^chool^O has been fully informed of our plans sincewe began the application process. ATTACHMENT VI-33 "City seeks to be first in state to experiment with charter schools," Buffalo News article, February 3, 1998. King Center picture and caption from calendar distributed at the Inauguration of Mayor Anthony Masiello in January 1998. Letters of endorsement for the King Center Charter School application. uty seeks to be first in state to experiment with charter schools By MM. FAIRBANKS Charter schools are viewed public schools that operate free of force behind the charter school plan. most of the rules and regulations gov- "All we're asking Albany to do is Nt*s Staff Rtporter as a way of increasing erning regular public schools. They re- please give us the ability to control choice and competition ceive funding from the local school our own destiny." Buffalo wants the power to do what in j^lk schools with board or the state and are usually re- By no means is the city's request a nn oihcr city in lhe state has done — quired to meet performance standards. done deal. experiment with charier schools. smaller classes and more parent involvement* The schools, which are the latest Buffalo's teachers union is dead-set The request is almost certain to innovation in education, are often against the plan, and statewide unions spawn a halllc with one of Albany's started by parents, teachers or com- Sirobably will follow suit. Their biggest MrnnccM lobbies — the stale teachers ear is that charter schools will lead to first of its kind in New York. munity leaders who want greater flexi- unions. bility in how their school is managed. uncertified teachers in the classroom. Common.Council members arc ex- The concept also has the backing "The Council is on board. The mayor "Charter schools are a quick lw." pected to approve a measure today of Mayor Masicllo and the Board of is on board. The Board of Education said Philip Rumore. president of the a«.kinc the Mate for permission to cre- Education. is on board," said University Council ate a pilot chatter school program, the Charter schools arc independent Member Kevin J. Heifer, the driving See Scfceob Page M Mi* #*»$ p-vyfl Schools: Buffalo's teachers union is strongly against the plan Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Spring- . Continued from Page At concept. "I see room for compromise, For supporters, charter schools ville, said the governor fs intent on said West District School Board Buffalo Teachers Federation. are viewed as a way of increasing reviving his charter school proposal Member Anthony Luppino. "The "Why don't they show a real com- choice and competition in the pub- and that Buffalo could emerge as board welcomes innovative ap- mitment by putting more money lic school system. They often pro- an ideal test site. proaches to education." into the schools?" vide smaller class sizes, longer . He also expects opposition from What the Council envisions is a Rumore also thinks the idea class periods and allow for greater the state's powerful teacher five-year pilot project that would will lead to all-white and all-black involvement by parents. unions. schools while ignoring what he The first charter school opened create no more than three charter ' ?I'm cautiously optimistic," schools a year. views as the ultimate problem with its doors in St. Paul, Minn., in Reynolds said. "Teacher unions city schools — a lack of money 1992 and, over the years, 29 states are concerned about teacher certi- Not every city lawmaker views and leadership. have adopted similar laws. fication and that will be one of charter schools as a panacea but He points to School 68. which Last year, Gov. Pataki offered the great debates in the coming almost all of them are willing to has improved student achievement his own charter school legislation year. try the idea. because of a nationally recogni; «d but, when negotiations stalled, he Working to the city's advantage principal and private funding frt,m shelved the idea until now. Is Its unified front: The mayor. "I think it would be good to al- MAT Bank. President Clinton also backs the Council and Board of Education low Buffalo to experiment with it," said Council Member at Large Despite union opposition, state idea and has vowed to expand the all support the notion of a pilot lawmakers are hopeful a compro- number of charter schools nation- project. However, they differ on Barbra A. Kavanaugh, chairwoman wide from 800 to 3,000 in two mise can be worked out and Buf- some details but no one is describ- of the Education Committee. "We falo can become the first city in years. ing those differences as insur- have a history of successful inno- the state to experiment with the Assembly Minority Leader mountable. vation." IVr ^^^^^^ ^^^B^^^^ Sinn's Ituffolo Theatre has broken gronml for a $12 million renovation that will greatly enhanee its ability to attraet the largest broadwav shows. The Albright-Knox Art (iallery has been called an "unexpected treasure chest of masterpieces" and has committed The former St. Mary of Sorrows Church to a $6.5 million is being transformed into the King Urban renovation. v Ufe Center, and will be Buffalo's first "^•W/wpn •»ri.v!»'' charter school. Sanrlv \ GlOlA MANAGEMENT, INC. C IH07 ElMWOOn iVVnNUE. SUITE 176 BUFFALO. NEW YORK 14207-24 M PAX 71W7&4M35 Atthnny H. Oka, - H76-7612 Sklncy R. Pinkwi - 87A-77HI Rlekwd E. Gkihi - W7A-7IW4 K,i&,UnU j. Adam*. M7<wdLi| September 27,1999 DtOauyRMassey King Urban Life Center 938 Genesee Street Buffalo, New York 14211 Dear Dr. Massey: I am writing to yon to express-my support for the King Urban Life Center Charmr School application. I have had the privilege of touring the King Urban Life Center on two occasions; and aside £com being extremely impressed with the ardutectural preservation, I was also amazed at the educational accomplishments, that are taking place. It appears to have a very dedicated star!; excellent equipment — panintiady computcxa — plus a real desire to improve student learning and accomplishment for children that are at risk of academic failure. Any objective review, in my judgment, reveals that the Buffalo School System is failing, not because of money, since we spend more per student than many other communities, but sather due to a lack of leadership. By allowing the Kind Urban life Center to become a charter school, our community can. have cost effective, quality education at a time when our resources are severely tapped. Thank you for your consideration. ithony H. Gioia Chairman AHG/tja 30 39Vd JLW9W VI0I9 SES09189T6 80:60 666I/6Z/60 #c Council 2i CITY OF BUFFALO KEVIN J. HELPER SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTAN NIVERSITY DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER JENNIFER FECIO-MCDOUOALL COUNCIL MINORITY LEADER 55 NIAGARA SQUARE, ROOM 1502 LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS BUFFALO, N.Y. 14202-3315 ANNA S. GUSTINA PHONE: 851-5165 • FAX: 851-5648 MICHELLE D. MAZYCK E Mail: [email protected] September 24, 1999 Dr.