Overhaul or cosmetic makeover?
by Benjamin Herold on Jul 16 2010
With $3 million in privately donated funds at its disposal, Mastery Charter hoped to dramatically upgrade the facilities in each of its threeRenaissance schools before the start of the new school year.
But with some of the Renaissance school buildings needing major overhauls in order to address decades of neglect, even Mastery’s $1 million per school might not be enough to create the dramatic new beginnings that have been promised to students and parents.
And with only six weeks until the start of school, the District and its four Renaissance providers, which will convert seven District schools to charters in September, are still negotiating contractual details. So far, there are few firm answers to the most important questions about when and how the most challenging facilities issues at the Renaissance schools will be addressed.
Despite the confusion and the rapidly tightening timeline, Mastery CEO Scott Gordon is adamant that Harrity, Mann and Smedley Elementary Schools will feel different in September.
“We will get this job done. We’ll find a way,” said Gordon. “We made a commitment to parents that we will improve all of those schools to the tune of about $1 million
And with only six weeks until the start of school, the District and its four Renaissance providers, which will convert seven District schools to charters in September, are still negotiating contractual details. So far, there are few firm answers to the most important questions about when and how the most challenging facilities issues at the Renaissance schools will be addressed.
Despite the confusion and the rapidly tightening timeline, Mastery CEO Scott Gordon is adamant that Harrity, Mann and Smedley Elementary Schools will feel different in September.
“We will get this job done. We’ll find a way,” said Gordon. “We made a commitment to parents that we will improve all of those schools to the tune of about $1 million