FW: merger email

----- Original Message -----

From: Michelle Blackmon

To: Annette Wawerna

Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 3:10 PM

Subject: Fwd: merger email

On March 3 at 6:30, there will be a meeting of parents, staff and community members at Neighborhood Charter School to discuss a proposal to formally merge NCS and Atlanta Charter Middle School. Currently, attendance at NCS is no guarantee that your child will be able to attend ACS. An earlier proposal to make NCS an official “feeder” for the middle school (which would have guaranteed NCS children places at ACMS) was informally rejected by Atlanta Public Schools in the last few weeks. This means that as ACMS fills up in the next few years, students finishing the fifth grade at NCS will have no promise of being able to attend. If you are interested in having your child attend ACMS and continuing in the unique learning environment and community created at NCS, please come to this meeting to show your support. The exact details of how this would happen will have to be worked out in the coming=2 0weeks.

What we know so far:

1.The proposal is to combine the schools at the board and executive director level, so that NCS and ACMS would function under a single agreement—or “charter”—with Atlanta Public Schools but continue to operate two separate campuses for elementary and middle school.

2. Nothing will change in the staffing, funding and classroom experience for children at NCS. Both schools will continue to have their own principals.

3. The merger will guarantee that children who finish the fifth grade at NCS are automatically eligible to be enrolled at Atlanta Charter Middle School (currently not the case).

4. There will be only one governing board, overseeing both schools, similar in make up to the present boards.

5. There will no longer be duplicative committees at each school overseeing personnel, buildings and grounds, finance, fundraising, etc. This means parent volunteers can be more effectively organized and have a longer period of time within a single “school community”.

6. The merger will help ensure that the curriculum and classroom atmosphere at the middle school are “in sync” with the constructivist approach of NCS.

The purpose of the joint meeting on March 3 is to discuss the pros and cons of the proposal, best ways to proceed with a merger, and most importantly, to demonstrate that this is something parents want;. It is essential that a l arge number of people speak up at this meeting in favor of the merger. So please plan to be there and make a brief comment. "I support this idea and want to see these two schools merge". "I think this is important and want this to happen", etc. ... or elaborate if you are inclined. We need a strong showing of support from parents who realize that it is critical for the middle school to be available to all the children of NCS and to offer the same extraordinary level of teaching and community environment as the elementary school.

The concept of merging the schools has been discussed by the boards of both Neighborhood Charter School and Atlanta Charter Middle School. The board of ACMS voted unanimously earlier this month to approve a resolution of support for the concept of merging the schools. The20board of Neighborhood Charter School will take up discussion of a similar resolution of support on March 11^th.

Many other charter schools recognize the importance of offering a longer school experience, such as Imagine Wesley (K-8) and KIPP WAYS Academy (5-8). This lengthens the educational experience for students and parents through the middle school years and leads to higher edu cational achievement and stronger parental support.

As our neighborhoods continue to grow, and middle schools outside of our district become more and more difficult to gain access to, it is more and more essential for NCS families to know they have a good middle school option--particularly one that continues with the educational philosophy their child is used to. Enrollment preference at ACMS for students matriculating from NCS provides parents and guardians with a guaranteed kindergarten through eighth grade school experience. Creating a K-8 school will ensure that students can maintain a core group of friends and classmates with them as they begin this unique period of adolescence. Maintaining a consistent pipeline of students from the elementary school to the middle will also reduce how much time and energy required for 6th grade teachers to “reinvent the wheel” with a new community of students each year.

Please feel free to forward this information to other parents at NCS. I hope to see you March 3^rd.

Liz Teschner (Alix's mom)

404-944-4616