November 13, 2012
Mr. Mitchell D. Chester
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education
75 Pleasant St
Malden, MA
02148
Dear Commissioner Chester:
At
the Women’s Fund our mission is to advance the educational attainment and
economic security of women and girls in southeastern Massachusetts. We care
deeply about the quality of education children receive in New Bedford. Since last May when Erica Brown first came
to present to community stakeholders about City On A Hill, we have been
impressed with the model and the success, and believe it would be a good thing
for New Bedford.
While
I know that there has not been definitive research on the success of all
Charter Schools, it is clear that City On A Hill is doing many things right. My
personal belief is that a community like New Bedford will benefit from school
choice, especially when the choices are adding to the existing charter and
independent schools in place.
As
co-chair of the Education Roundtable, I have been in close communication with
the New Bedford Public Schools, advocating for transformational educational
reform. All of the children who live in New Bedford deserve a quality
education. The School Department is in a change mode at the moment, and the
Roundtable feels hopeful that this will continue. With the addition of City on
A Hill, my hope is that a consortium may be one outcome, down the road. IF the
charter schools and the public schools can work together on best practices,
challenges and strategies to successfully address them, fine education will
become the norm sooner.
IF
you have further questions about my support, do not hesitate to be in touch.
Sincerely
yours,
Kate
Fentress,
Executive
Director
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