“The Selling Out of John Hope” — Community Petition Demands Answers About Charter School Arrangement
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
“The Selling Out of John Hope” — Community Petition Demands Answers About Charter School Arrangement
Providence City Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris said the petition was started after a community meeting on Friday at John Hope regarding the interest from the Wangari Maathai Community School to be housed there prompted more questions from the community about the potential arrangement.
Harris told GoLocalProv.com that she met with community members in the West End this week — and that a petition is now circulating entitled “The Selling Out of John Hope Settlement House - Again.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Make no mistake — the founders and promoters of this proposed new charter school did not reach out to the community and alumni of John Hope,” states the petition, which is calling for a community meeting with the board of John Hope.
SEE PETITION BELOW
“Last night with I met with about 15 community members,” said Harris. “It was impromptu — their biggest concern was the secret way this was done, and that was done behind closed doors. We think we only have 30 days according to DEM. Once they sign that — the school can proceed.”
Harris was referring to the required “Safe School Siting Act” meeting on Friday, which stipulates that written approval from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to site a school at the must be received prior to the school finalizing its selection of the property — and if approved, the school can begin renovations at the property by May 1 in anticipation of the upcoming school year.”
“The community walked away wanting to know who this school is for. Our kids haven’t been given the opportunity because the lottery was done — why are we being left out?” said Harris.
School, John Hope Respond
GoLocalProv.com asked both representatives at the school — and John Hope — when conversations first took place between the school and John Hope; if there was a contract; if under the proposed arrangement would John Hope own the building and the school be a tenant, or would the school own the building and John Hope be the tenant; and what their response was to concerns by community members that they were not informed as to the potential arrangement of Wangari Maathai being housed in John Hope prior to last week.
“Wangari Maathai Community School is excited for the opportunity to lease space from John Hope, and is looking forward to continuing discussions with the John Hope board and community about our school,” said Siobhan Callahan with the school.
“John Hope was one of the several spaces that the school was looking at, they came to John Hope last spring,” said John Hope Board Chair Jameela Dunston. “There is no contract, and there is no arrangement.”
“There are several individuals and councilperson who have been misinformed and those who have misinformed the community,” continued Dunston.
“John Hope has not been at the forefront,” said Harris. “I learned about the school going there through GoLocalProv. It’s a shame about how people were finding out about the DEM having the mandatory meeting with the community. This wasn't a meeting done by the school -- they tried to limit the community on what they could on ask on Friday, saying it had to be related only to environmental concerns.”
“First of all, why are we only having this conversation now? After the lottery was conducted? I don’t feel it was rolled out right. There’s a lot of concern,” said Harris. “Regarding the lottery -- people were saying [on Friday] our children don't have a chance, that they did not provide the information -- it was very frustrating. But people were on point with asking questions.”
