A new private foundation looking to support classical education has identified a local charter school as a model for other schools that it might support.
Acta Non Verba – from the Latin for “actions, not words” – is a charitable foundation created in the region with the goal of fostering “the growth of classical education options,” according to a press release. It recently announced that it had selected Lionheart Classical Academy in Peterborough as its first “Model School,” a designation that comes with an unrestricted grant to help it realize its classical education aspirations
“We hope to identify emerging classical schools that we could help,” said Richard Merkt of Westmoreland, vice chair and secretary of the foundation and a co-founder of Lionheart. “These would be sponsorship candidates that we could help with challenge grants; they’d have to raise a certain amount of funds, and we’d match them.”
Local individuals who are part of Acta Non Verba include Barry Tanner of Hancock and interim Executive Director Leo Plante of Dublin, also a co-founder of Lionheart. Directors of the founding board also include Augusta Petrone and Veronica Lima, both of Dublin. Along with Merkt and Plante, members of Acta Non Verba’s board with ties to Lionheart include Kimberly Lavallee – the Lionheart board’s current chair — Tanner, Lima and Petrone.
What allows Acta Non Verba to support various schools is that it’s a private charitable foundation.
“So we can support public charter schools as well as religious ones, and our focus is on classical education,” said Merkt, explaining that this includes a focus on the liberal arts, as well as Latin and Greek, but also an emphasis on sound fundamentals in math and reading.
The New Hampshire Department of Education has approved over 30 charter public schools, and Merkt noted that the foundation’s efforts would include finding those with classical aspirations and three essentials.
“First, they need a financial base, second, sound school leadership, and third, a good location,” as many students rely on transportation by parents, which is another “must have” that Merkt noted. “Parental support – and involvement. Something beyond just dropping a child off and picking her up after school.”
There are five schools on the foundation’s radar, said Merkt, adding that “Any sponsorship candidates must have classical elements in their curricula already. And if they don’t have those three essentials, they’ll have some work to do before we can work together.”
At a time when many young people choose learning paths with the practical skills that they believe will lead them to a job, Merkt said that there’s more that schooling should do.
“You want a well-rounded education, understanding history and literature,” he said. “Parents who want a child to succeed will seek out a good school.”
According to the website of the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “State authorized charter schools are funded directly by the state; they receive no local funding at approximately $9,000 per student ($4,100 state adequacy aid plus $4,900 additional grant). Locally authorized charter schools are funded at approximately 80% of the average cost per pupil by their local district. Locally authorized charter schools receive state and local funds.”
Addressing the issue of charter schools taking funds from public schools, the Alliance’s website states: “When a child attends a charter school the state portion of adequacy aid (about $4,100 fiscal 2023) is sent directly to the charter school, local taxpayer dollars remain in the district and do not forward to the charter school. New Hampshire charter schools do not receive local tax dollars, as a result the state Legislature provides charter schools with an additional $4,900 per pupil.”
Charter schools do not charge tuition, which Merkt said makes them “an equalizer in society.”
Merkt is lawyer by training who has been involved in politics as a member of New Jersey’s General Assembly and unsuccessful candidate for New Jersey governor, New Hampshire state representative and state senator. Asked why he is committing to this endeavor, he said, “It troubles me that I’ve had options that others haven’t.”
Beyond altruism, he noted another mot ivator.
“Our society is dependent on the quality of our education system,” he said.