It’s not even 8 a.m. on a school day, but Imagine Charter School students Kewon Simmons, Jordyn Holder, Keshaun Pressley and Amy Flaherty are munchkins on a mission of cleanliness in their West Melbourne school’s courtyard. The four are busy bagging any bit of litter that catches their sight. In the school cafeteria, fellow students Isaiah Lasseter, Joshua Schackelford and …
Letter to the Editor: I made a mistake
“Your article ‘Some Utah charter schools hire for-profit management’ (Aug. 8) referenced a controversial internal e-mail that I wrote two years ago, in which I expressed frustration about working with some local charter boards. I issued an apology, and I would like to unequivocally state again that I made a mistake. I mischaracterized the role of boards and the partnership …
Separate but equal: More schools are dividing classes by gender
On a Tuesday morning in February, Soheila Ahmad’s first-grade class at Imagine Southeast Public Charter School has just finished language arts. The 12 children — all boys, all African American — are tidying up their desks. There are no windows in this basement room, but one wall, the backdrop for posters, is painted sky blue. “I need the cleanup crew …
Policy Matters Ohio is spreading misinformation about charter schools: Jason Bryant
With political agendas in hand, union-backed organizations, such as Policy Matters Ohio, are trying to undercut school choice by spreading misinformation regarding Ohio public community (charter) schools. In May, Policy Matters Ohio released a report attacking Imagine Schools and continues to bounce around the state repeating its accusations, including a recent column published by The Plain Dealer. The report is …
Graduate of Imagine Renassiance Academy wins Gates Millennium Scholarship
“Inspired by his cousin to reach far, a Kansas City student did just that, and last month, he was named a recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Alfred Baskerville IV, a recent graduate of Imagine Renaissance Academy of Environmental Science and Math, knew it would be easier to achieve his dreams if he received the scholarship, which pays for virtually …
Friday letters: Imagine Schools have many successes
“The St. Petersburg Times’ redundant article and editorial this week on Imagine Schools unfairly characterizes an organization with a positive history educating thousands of Florida students. The unbalanced reporting greatly overstated the challenges at Imagine St. Petersburg as well as diminished its positive progress both in finances and academics. Corrective action will eliminate the debt over the next three years. …
Statement of Jason Bryant on Biased Policy Report
Cleveland, OH (May 13, 2010) — Jason Bryant, Executive Vice President of Imagine Schools, today issued the following statement in response to the release of the Policy Matters Ohio Report on Imagine Schools: “The attack on Imagine Schools by Policy Matters Ohio is not surprising given its union associations and history of bias against charter schools. The report is political …
LETTER; Judging Charter Schools
To the Editor: We are appalled by your depiction of Imagine Schools in ”For Charter School Company, Issues of Spending and Control” (front page, April 24). The true tests of successful schools, whether charter or traditional, are parent satisfaction and student achievement. Why not spotlight the 37,000 Imagine Schools students who are learning character and leadership along with reading, history …