Credit:Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Neshaminy School Board begrudgingly voted to approve Philadelphia-based MaST Charter School’s proposed expansion into the district.
The 9-0 vote came Wednesday evening after a court order required the district to approve the charter school’s request to come into the district.
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The approval means MaST’s charter will run for the next three year. It will allow the charter school to open a K-12 facility within district borders.
School Board President Scott Congdon, who didn’t approve of MaST coming into the district, said the board either had approve the charter or the court would do it for them.
“I’d like it to be known that we are being forced to do this” School Board member Ron Rudy said after the vote.
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School Board member Stephen Pirritano said he feels Neshaminy offers the best education for students and raised concern about the tuition costs Neshaminy will have to pay to the charter.
School Board member Mike Morris was the only school board member to speak in support of charter schools.
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MaST first filed an application to open a charter school in the district in 2012. The application was denied and MaST fought the decision. During several meetings where the topic was discussed in 2012 and 2013, a group of community members spoke in support of MaST, citing that unique educational opportunities the new school can bring.
MaST focuses their efforts on math, science and technology, offering unique educational experiences to its students. Currently, the school has a campus in Northeast Philadelphia.
The school board also approved a resolution that called for reform of funding for cyber charter schools and also opposing a state legislature bill that deals with charter schools.
