The Standard Times - March 1, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130301/NEWS/303010351/
By Natalie Sherman, Writer for The Standard Times
nsherman@s-t.com
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
Innovation schools are in-district public schools with additional autonomy over areas such as curriculum. They receive funding through a per-pupil allocation and must contribute to parts of the district's overall budget — such as maintenance or costs of the central administration — but have the power to opt out of other services.
Members of the design teams said they first asked the district for the information this fall, as early as September in the case of the Esperanza School, to supply the information they need — such as what the district will require from them in terms of administrative or maintenance costs.
"The School Department didn't have a business manager for most of the fall. ... That's my understanding of the main cause of the delay," said Kerry DeJesus, one of the members of the Esperanza School design team, repeating the explanation provided by the district and a member of the Renaissance design team.
"I do hope that the mayor does understand that the reason why the budget has not been submitted is due to no negligence on the part of the design teams," DeJesus added. "We have done everything possible to get the information we need."
Renaissance Art School design team member Jennifer Clune said under the terms of the state innovation school statute the School Committee must consider the proposals in April, within 60 days of receiving the plans.
"I totally understand that people want to see a cost-neutral budget," she said, adding that some of the answers to St. John's questions are in the plans.
