Wednesday, September 25, 2013

letter to planning a zoning




To: Windham Planning & Zoning Commission

IV. New Business (Discussion and Possible Action)
1. Path Academy - Windham – 832 Main St. Willimantic – Site plan review for alternative school

On September 26, 2013 the Windham Planning and Zoning will take up for consideration the proposed new charter school, The Path Academy, to be located in the former YMCA building on Main Street.

Before this project is acted on, all those involved  should be informed of the importance of their vote. It could be the most important  vote of their ZB career and could determine the fate of downtown Willimantic for years or decades to come.

The proposed Path Academy is intended to educate overage under-credited students, 14 to 24 years of age. Windham and 18 sending towns (as far asVernon and Norwich) will fill the 200 seats approved by the State Board of Education. Windham is allocated 75% of the seats, sending towns the remainder. If Windham fails to fill their allocated seats, sending towns will take those seats. (Special Master Adamowski foresees Windham filling 90 seats)

Windham officials have promised Our Piece of the Pie (OPP), the charter management firm that will oversee the Path Academy that parking will be no problem. Potentially 90% or 180 students plus teachers, staff and those on school business will require parking. Will we jeopardize future economic development on Main St for school parking?

OPP's charter application to the State references the types of students that they intend to  recruit to the Main St charter school. "Path Academy will engage in widespread and aggressive marketing and recruitment. The academy will specifically target to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds." The Path Academy will recruit students that have a:
  • History of low academic performance. 
  • Students who have been recommended by their home district
  • Students receiving free or reduced lunches
  • ELL students
  • Students with behavioral and social difficulties
  • Students with special need 's
  • Special education students
The Chronicle points out in a September 13, 2013 article that 13% (84 students) are responsible for 70% of severe behavioral referrals at Windham High School. Having an alternative setting for these students, board members felt it would improve the learning for the rest of the school. Master Adamowski said, 
"Many of these students might fall into the  overage under-credited of youths who will be admitted to the new Path Academy charter school set to open in the fall of 2014 on Main St."
The potential of 84 troublemakers funneled to Main St from Windham High, possibly the same numbers sent from 18 sending towns......  five bars, one gambling house and an established drug culture at the front and back doors of this proposed Academy.  Is this environment conducive to a school? Is this school conducive to Willimantic's Main St.future?

Has anyone done an impact study of this type of program on surrounding business? Has anyone done an impact study of any kind at all about this school being located on Main Street?

John Monaghan
860-456-4897
www.frames224@yahoo.com



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