Two charter schools that would serve Newark students are still slated to open next year despite their charter management company stepping away during the schools' planning process.
The schools, Vailsburg Prep and Spirit Prep, which are scheduled to open in September 2012, are now fielding offers from other charter management firms after City Prep Academies decided to stop their role, said Patrick Byrne, coordinator and founder for both schools.
"All is not lost," said Byrne. "It was more of a stumble than setback."
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City Prep Academies was headed by Tom Vander Ark, former executive director of education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which distributed more than $1 billion to schools all over the country during Vander Ark's tenure from 1999 to 2006, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper first reported in early July the news about the diminished role of Vander Ark, who had provided essential services such as professional writing for the charter application, forming the charter school boards, footing lawyer fees, and initial interviews for staff.
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They would have also provided start-up money for the schools through either state or private funds, Byrne said.
"The fiscal crisis meant that grants that used to be available for charters were suddenly disrupted and funding for customary pre-opening grants got tight," said Vander Ark in an emailed statement on why he was stepping down. "For example, few if any proposed New Jersey charters received state pre-opening support during this period. In addition to providing lots of technical assistance, we were able to step in and cover some of the shortfall but not indefinitely. And certainly, we made this clear to folks on many occasions."
Vander Ark went on to say that he had contacted another management company, Connections Academy, to pick up where City Prep Academies left off.
Byrne said five management companies have also contacted him after the New York Times article ran.
And planning continues apace for the Newark schools, Byrne said.
Right now, Byrne said, the schools are in the "pre-start up phase" as Byrne formulates school handbooks, holds meetings with the boards, and recruits teachers.
Spirit Prep would host a projected number of 600 students from Newark, East Orange and Irvington and cover grades 9 to 12, according to a state education press release. Vailsburg Prep would also cover the same grades for 600 students as well.
They schools are also looking for spaces to house the students — meaning the Vailsburg school may not be located in Vailsburg in the end, he said.
Both schools will have host the blended learning model, which combines traditional classroom teaching and computer work, Byrne said. Much of the core lessons will be taught online, he said.
"Spirit Prep will offer a blended learning model of project-based learning, face-to-face learning, and online instruction integrated with instrumental music," according to a state press release.
"Vailsburg Prep proposes to open a high school that will serve students using a research-based, blended learning curriculum. In this model, traditional classroom instruction will be supplemented with online learning," according to the same press release.
"Particularly for urban kids, these schools connect the real world to the learning experiences so they (students) can reach their maximum potential," Byrne said. "School shouldn't be a vacuum. Schools should give tools to navigate real life."
