We, the undersigned, call for the reopening of the Ark Community Charter School in Troy NY.
Despite meeting its required proficiency scores in the last 4 of 5 years and consistently beating performance of the local public school, the Charter Institute recommended closing the Ark. This move was precipitated by a sudden change in the proficiency metrics used by the Charter Institute, in violation of the charter agreement with the Ark.
Despite being presented with copious amounts of evidence of the stated violation, with expert testimony on the efficacy of the Ark's education strategies and the desperate pleas of parents and students, the SUNY Trustees voted 2-1 to close the Ark. This means one person's vote will steer the destiny of 30 employees and 200 students. This is not right.
We call upon Governor Cuomo and State University of New York Trustees Joseph Belluck, Steven Hunt and John Murad to immediately reverse the closing of the Ark.
The Ark grew from a long established social justice mission by Mary Theresa Streck, Jay Murnane and Taeko Onishi in Troy's public housing. The effort to help some of New York State's most disadvantaged kids developed into the current Ark School which opened in 2001. The school employs 30 people and serves 200 of New York State's poorest kids.
The Ark also stands in opposition to the corporate models of education that have come to dominate charter schools. The school began as a grassroot initiative and has garnered strong support from the neighborhood it serves.
The Charter Institute and the Trustees have awarded renewal contracts to schools that have underperformed the Ark. Again, this is not right.
Please do the right thing and renew the Ark's charter.
Yours Very Truly,
The Undersigned
