Hempstead schools: Latest charter proposal will add to $86M tab
Public school districts pay students' tuition for them to attend charter schools, like the Evergreen Charter School on Peninsula Boulevard in Hempstead, seen here in 2016. Credit: Newsday / John Paraskevas
A nonprofit is proposing another charter school in Hempstead Village, but local school officials and some community leaders say it will add to the $86 million a year the district pays to charter schools — and that the area doesn't need another one.
The Diamond Charter School's proposal is under review by the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute, which provides administrative support in authorizing charter schools for the SUNY Board of Trustees. The institute is expected to make a recommendation to the trustees in time for a final vote in the fall.
If approved, the new school would open in Hempstead Village in 2026 with about 160 students in kindergarten and first grade initially, and grow to serve 486 students in grades K-5 in its fifth year, according to Diamond's executive director, Mark Crusante.
"The beauty of a charter school is that if parents don't like the traditional school district, they have a choice," he said.
WHAT TO KNOW
- A nonprofit is proposing a charter school in Hempstead Village, but local school officials and some community leaders say it will add to the $86 million a year the district already pays to charter schools.
- The Diamond Charter School's proposal is under review by the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute, which is expected to make a recommendation to the SUNY Board of Trustees for a final vote in the fall.
- If approved, the new school would open in Hempstead Village in 2026 with about 160 students in kindergarten and first grade initially, and grow to serve 486 students in grades K-5 in its fifth year.
About 100 people attended a public hearing on the proposed charter school Monday evening in Hempstead, where several local school administrators, teachers and others opposed the plan, Hempstead school board President Victor Pratt said.
Hempstead Village has two charter schools — Academy Charter School and Evergreen Charter School — according to a listing by the state Department of Education. But Pratt said local students also attend the Roosevelt Children's Academy Charter School in Roosevelt.
"It's just an oversaturation," Pratt said. "It's taking away funds and resources from the district."
Pratt noted that student tuition for charter schools is paid for by the public school district, and said Hempstead already pays about $86 million a year, or $26,200 per student, to charter schools.
Crusante, an administrator for a charter school network in New York City, noted that Hempstead is among the largest school districts on Long Island, with some 6,000 students, and that elementary schools there often perform below the state averages for math and English. He said parents could use another choice.
Crusante said his charter school, at its largest student population, would account for about 4.6%, or about $13.8 million, of Hempstead's approximately $300 million budget. He said his nonprofit, based in New York City, has yet to select a specific site.
Baldwin School Superintendent Shari Camhi spoke against charter schools during the public hearing, noting that her district pays more than $1 million for students in charter schools.
She said charter schools are unlike most public schools, and accused them of not accepting "students with disabilities or those just arrived from other countries."
Crusante said his charter school would be open to special education students and English language learners.
New York State has 359 charter schools that are operating or have been approved, according to the state Department of Education. The majority are located in New York City. Long Island has seven: in Wyandanch, Uniondale, Roosevelt, Connetquot, Riverhead and the two in Hempstead.
Lucky Irowa, president of the Hempstead PTA, said in an interview Tuesday that he opposed charter schools because they are not controlled by a locally elected school board. In addition, he said charter schools promote segregation by not accepting English language learners and "cherry-picking the students they want."
Crusante said, "I am ready to work with all children, regardless of race or special needs."
He said each of the classes would be staffed with two teachers, one a certified instructor and the other a specialist in working with either English language learners or special needs kids.
Michael Lesczinski, communications director for the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, said proposed charter schools are evaluated based on several criteria, including the community need, curriculum and instruction, fiscal soundness, the ability to serve special populations and school leadership.
"The Institute recommends for approval only those applications that are highly likely to create charter schools that improve student achievement, especially for students who are at risk of academic failure and provide educational choice to families in underserved communities," Lesczinski said in an email.
Craig Schneider is a Long Island native and Stony Brook University alumnus. He joined Newsday as a general assignment reporter in January 2018 after 20 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
