State and National Dignitaries Celebrate Opening of First Mayoral Academy

10-07-2009

CUMBERLAND, RI –Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to mark the opening of Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley (DPBV). Governor Donald L. Carcieri, House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox, Senate Majority Leader Daniel P. Connors, RIMA board chair Mayor Daniel J. McKee and Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Deborah A. Gist, and others welcomed DPBV to Rhode Island’s education community.

The president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Nelson Smith, addressed the audience of state and local officials, school leaders, parents, teachers, scholars and supporters. Smith is a nationally recognized expert on charter schools and education policy.

"Over the past seven years, I have made it a priority to expand options for students and parents. And, the bottom line is this is an investment well worth making. Our young people who attend charter schools benefit from having access to new avenues of learning and the kind of parental involvement these schools encourage," said Carcieri. "We know the challenge. We need to foster an environment in this state that is conducive to reform and innovation, and replicate models that have demonstrated success. Democracy Prep is one of those models. With more class time, including a longer school day and school year, students, teachers and families are asked to do more at this school. The expectations are high, and I am confident these expectations will be exceeded."

“From national leaders to Rhode Island officials, I want to thank everyone who assisted in making this vision a reality,” McKee said. “It is evident everyone here today recognizes the important role quality public education plays in our community, our state and our country.”

“I have supported the RIMA initiative since it was introduced last year and I am pleased to be here celebrating their first school,” said Fox. “I will continue to work to ensure that all Rhode Island students have the opportunity for a strong educational foundation.”

“Democracy Prep has had great success in Harlem and the selection of this top-performing school operator shows great promise in RIMA’s ability to fulfill their mission to education in Rhode Island.” said Connors.

"I am pleased to welcome the Democracy Prep mayoral academy to Rhode Island," said Gist. "Charter schools not only provide families with a school-choice option, they are laboratories of innovation that serve as models for all of our public schools. I am confident that Democracy Prep will offer a great education to its students and that it will help us transform education across the state."

The first group of scholars, as Democracy Prep refers to their students, is made up of 76 kindergarteners from Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln and Pawtucket. The Class of 2026 began August 31; the school will eventually serve kindergarten through Grade 12.

“Wasting no time, our teachers and administrators worked hard to ensure students would be learning on day one,” said Jeremy Chiappetta, DPBV head of school. “Working closely with staff, students and parents, we will ensure this program becomes a success.”

“I am extremely pleased after two years of hard work, with the support of the governor, as well as House and Senate leaders, we accomplished this worthy goal. This initiative puts Rhode Island on the map nationally as a state truly embracing education reform and new school initiatives,” said McKee. “The next step in the process is working in a collaborative manner to achieve a school funding policy which Rhode Island desperately needs. It is essential Rhode Island adopt a funding policy or we will be putting millions of dollars in federal funding in jeopardy.”

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring the Democracy Prep charter school model to Rhode Island,” said Seth Andrew, Democracy Prep founder. “We are successfully putting students on the path to college in Harlem and now young, responsible citizen-scholars in Blackstone Valley are on their way to changing the world as well.”

About RIMA

Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA) is a nonprofit umbrella organization overseeing the new Mayoral Academies education model in Rhode Island. Authorized during the 2008 legislative session, Mayoral Academies are a new form of charter school combining successful school operators with the accountability of a mayor-led, local-governance structure. As a result of the legislation, RIMA is afforded great flexibility to design their own teacher salary, health and retirement benefit structures. This flexibility enables the recruitment of innovative teachers and allows for incentive-based or outcome-based pay.

About Democracy Prep

The mission of Democracy Prep Charter School is to educate responsible citizen-scholars to succeed in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship.

Seth Andrew brought together the founding team, which included teachers, administrators, community members, and business leaders who shared the mission of preparing every student for success in college and citizenship. The small group worked to write the charter application, which was among the last approved by the Chancellor under the previous cap, and in August 2006, Democracy Prep welcomed its first group of students in Harlem.