Charter school gets OK to add grade but not increase enrollment

Stamford Charter School for Excellence was given state approval to add a sixth grade, but not increase its enrollment.

The decision came after an extensive debate by the state Board of Education, meeting virtually on Tuesday, about the precedent that would be set if new seats were approved knowing that additional state funding is not available.

In February, the Stamford charter school, which currently serves 392 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, was highly praised as it was given a five-year renewal.

During that approval process, a number of parents bemoaned the fact that the school did not include middle school grades.

The original proposal considered Tuesday would have allowed the school to add sixth through eighth grade, increase enrollment to 560 and seek a second building.

Instead it can grow one grade, look for a second building and stick to its existing enrollment cap.

“I don’t know why we would be even entertaining increasing to 560 if there is no funding available,” Erin Benham, a state BOE member, said at one point during the discussion.

Matthew Venhorst, in the state Department

of Education legal office, warned that expansion without funding could set a bad precedent.

Kevin Fischer, a founding principal of the school, said the idea is to stick with the 392 cap subject to appropriations. He said the school would eliminate pre-K in the new school year so that sixth grade could be added.

Don Harris, a board member, wondered if the school could keep its strong academic record if students don’t start from the beginning.

“If this plan were to go forward as you described it .... you are losing your continuity and I think doing a disservice to your kids,” Harris said.

Other board members, including Karen DuBoise-Walter, said she supported the idea that the school wanted to see existing students through middle school. She eventually voted against the expansion of just one grade.

“We want to see them through,” Fischer added of the students who started with the school five years ago.

There are other charter schools in the state that are in line for new seats first should funding become available, Deputy Commissioner Desi Nesmith reminded the board.