Utica Charter School Proposal No More for One Applicant
By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: January 24, 2012
A Utica charter school proposal is now withdrawn. Dr. Andy Lopez-williams, the lead applicant of the Mohawk Valley Charter School for Excellence, says he's decided to not go through with trying to develop a charter school in Utica.
Tuesday was the deadline to submit a letter to the State Education Department. Dr. Lopez says he's withdrawing because he did not have enough people to support him with the plan. He says Utica needs community leaders that will step up and commit.
"The reality is, is that every other major area, every other major city has a charter school. Now we have to decide as a city-- are we saying we know something different and better than any other metropolitan area or are we behind the learning curve," questions Dr. Lopez.
Dr. Lopez says the process of getting approval can be tedious. He says last year, about 100 people applied and only roughly seven schools were approved by the state.
