Dear Alma Families,
I am excited to announce that we are moving forward with plans to open a new Alma campus this fall! We will be opening this new campus with 200 scholars in Grades K,1,2 and 6 in August 2019. The school will grow within four years to serve 450 scholars in grades K-8.
We expect the Commissioner to make a formal recommendation to the State Board of Education (BESE) on this matter momentarily (watch live here). BESE will then take their formal vote next week. When they do, they will have a chance to read all of the thoughtful emails and letters that so many of you took the time to write on Alma’s behalf. Thank you for your support.
I am also happy to report that as part of our growth plan I have signed a letter of intent with the Commissioner and the City of New Bedford for this new campus to have neighborhood enrollment. Should this plan move forward, we will be breaking new ground by creating a fully autonomous Commonwealth charter school that enrolls students based on neighborhood zone rather than through a blind lottery. We will share information regarding enrollment for the new school this spring as those details are finalized.
There are many details of this proposed deal to be worked out. I am optimistic, however, that we can reach a final plan that serves the best interests of kids and families, who have been waiting for far too long for access to high quality school options.
While we realize we won’t be able to accommodate everyone on our current waiting list at the new Alma, we will continue to advocate to improve all schools in the city. This avenue for growth provides us with the possibility to seek even more seats in the future. This is one important step toward the day when every family in this city will have access to a high-quality school.
Eight years ago we set out on the mission to put New Bedford kids on the path to college and to challenge them to be service-minded leaders. Commissioner Riley’s recommendation both affirms the strides we’ve made in this work and sets the stage for more families to benefit from an Alma education in the future.
Thank you to all of you who continue to choose Alma for your family. We can’t wait to welcome 200 new scholars into the Alma family this fall.
In Service,
Will