Thursday, September 15, 2005
The charter school day starts before bus transportation is available.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A new charter school opened this week in the former Roosevelt School on Rigby Street, but its school day doesn't quite match the transportation services provided by the Youngstown City Schools.
The Youngstown Academy of Excellence opened its doors Monday and has 97 pupils attending kindergarten through fifth grade. Dr. Geraldine Wolfe, principal, said 108 pupils have enrolled.
By state law, the schools must provide transportation for qualified residents who choose to attend the charter school rather than a city school.
Anthony DeNiro, the district's assistant superintendent for business affairs, told the Youngstown school board Tuesday that the Youngstown Academy of Excellence sent in its transportation list earlier that day, asking for services for 55 of its pupils.
The snag
However, the charter school is running its school day from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and that presents a problem because Youngstown provides bus transportation between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., DeNiro said.
DeNiro said he spoke with Wolfe and advised her of Youngstown's transportation schedule, and suggested that the charter school adapt to that time frame.
He told the board that Wolfe proposed that Youngstown accommodate the charter school schedule.
The issue remained unresolved as of late Tuesday, he said.
Wolfe told The Vindicator Wednesday that the charter school has no intention of altering its daily schedule at this point.
Youngstown is willing to transport the school's pupils, but not on the school's schedule, she said, adding that she intends to check with state officials to find out what the mandates are for private school transportation and address the issue again.
It's a matter that must be resolved at the local level, said J.C. Benton, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education, adding that it should have been worked out before the start of school.
The local accountability for transportation lies with the district and the community schools, Benton said. If they can't resolve it, they can contact the department for assistance, but it still must be worked out at the local level. The state won't mandate how it is to be done, he said.
Wolfe said children at Youngstown Academy of Excellence needing transportation are being driven to school by parents.
The school is a tuition-free program run by Mosaica Education Inc., a New York-based operator of more than 50 charter schools around the country.
The organization opened the Academy of Arts & amp; Humanities in Warren last week and also operates the Youngstown Arts & amp; Sciences Academy.