Democrat and Chronicle Wed., Dec. 15, 1999

TAXPAYERS QUESTION CHARTER SCHOOL IDEAS

By Staff Writer Erika Rosenberg

Educators and community leaders who want to open charter schools in
Rochester faced challenging questions last night.

Mike McManus, a Rochester resident, wanted to know whether a proposed school
with a moral focus would teach evolution or creationism.

And he asked a group of teachers who want to base their school on in-depth
studies outside school what evidence there was that young children benefit
from that method.

McManus said he came to the public forum at East High School to find out
more about how these new schools would spend taxpayer money.

"There’s a lot of money involved in charter schools."

Charter schools, allowed in New York for the first time this year, receive
public funding for each student they enroll.

But they operate outside school districts and some bureaucratic
constraints.

Fourteen local groups have applied to state authorities to open charter
schools.

A second public forum on eight of the proposals will be held from 6 to 7:30
tonight at Franklin High School, 950 Norton St. It will be the last chance
for local residents to listen to and question the applicants.

The Center for Governmental Research plans to report to state officials
about which issues were raised.

Last night the audience learned that the Rochester Leadership Charter School
Academy plans to teach both evolution and creationism.

And the teachers hoping to open the Genesee Community Charter School said
research shows that in-depth studies benefit students of all ages.