Public schools, KIPP at odds over taking up space
I HAVE MADE NO SECRET - "I am not a fan of charter schools - it's a funding thing".
Still LPS'S and the MAYOR'S plea for a hold on KIPP'S expansion plan is not too persuasive to me.
"WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL BECAUSE WE GOT TOO MANY STUDENTS!"
Yeah, Okay.
MY OPINION HERE!
The trouble is while the money folllows the student, it doesn't follow them back. KIPP can't keep kids.
School department enrollment numbers for September through November indicate 41 KIPP students left the Highlands school to enroll in 11 Lynn public schools
What percentage of their enrollment is that? That number will multiply once younger kids are factored into the equation. Little kids are not as serious about their education as their parents are.
Somebody better start practice saying, "You kids can't play like your friends, you have school you fool."
I do not agree with the funding process the DESE uses either. I also do not think it is fair that charter schools get public funding, but do not have to follow the same rules as public school districts. That said, I do think parent's should have other options (besides private school) for their kids if they feel the public school district is not providing the necessary resources and services their child needs or the education their child deserves. LPS has been looking for space for quite some time now and to my knowledge, has not agreed on any. If KIPP can find space it wants to use to expand, is it really fair for LPS to try to stop them? How long does LPS expect KIPP to wait before they look for additional space? If LPS wants additional space and expects others to stop looking, then they better stop talking about the issue and start actually taking some action. I have been told there are about 780 students at KIPP who live in Lynn. Regardless of how anyone feels about charter schools, if KIPP did not exist, these almost 800 students would have to attend LPS and take up space in already overcrowded classrooms.
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