Q&A with Gloucester charter school founder Amy Ballin
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Present and former board members of the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School Amy Ballin, left, Gordon Baird, karen Aquipel, and Peter Van Ness speak with Jeff Wulfson, Associate Commissioner of the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education before school starts Thurs. Sept. 23.
On Sept. 23, the new Gloucester Community Arts Charter School (GCACS) opened its doors, despite the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education’s previous urgings that the school not open and that the enrolled children remain in their original schools. The Commissioner, Mitchell Chester, found the charter school “not viable,” citing concerns including alleged violations of the construction bidding laws; building code violations relating to the modular classrooms; mismanagement leading to a delayed opening; the absence of a Principal (Head of School); and concerns about the charter school’s financial viability.
Chester, in response to hearing the GCACS had opened, released the following statement: “I am planning to schedule a special meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as soon as possible to discuss this matter and to take appropriate action. I am disappointed