The Monadnock region could see a new public charter school opening in fall 2022. The proposed Monadnock Classical Academy would initially serve students K-5 and provide a classical curriculum, according to proponent Barry Tanner, who serves as Chair of the Monadnock Freedom to Learn Coalition, the sponsoring organization comprised of eight local trustees.
The charter school is in the process of applying for approval from the state Department of Education, Tanner said, after opting to receive support from Hillsdale College, a private Christian liberal arts college in Michigan that’s helped establish 24 charter schools across 11 states via its Barney Charter School Initiative program.
The Monadnock Freedom to Learn Coalition formed last year for the sole purpose of developing a charter school in the area, Tanner said. “What binds us together is our shared love for our community and our interest in seeing that all children have the benefit of an education that leaves them well-rounded citizens, prepared to flourish in further academic or career pursuits.” Tanner, from Hancock, is a Certified Public Accountant by trade. Other members are Leo Plante, Isaac Hall, and Augusta Petrone of Dublin, Kerry Bedard of Hancock, Jonathan Marshall of Jaffrey, Fred Ward of Stoddard, and Richard Merkt of Westmoreland. Although they were characterized as a conservative group in another story, the eight didn’t unite under any political banner, Tanner said.
Public charter schools have more flexibility in selecting curriculum than public schools, Tanner said, and MCA’s curriculum would focus on math, science, literature, and history. “Our students will also enjoy access to classical languages, as well as exposure to the core principles of moral character and civic virtue. Parents of Academy schoolchildren will serve on our board,” he said, and the school would intend to extend curriculum through grade 12 after a few years.
The charter school is public and tuition-free, Tanner said. As such, MCA would have “exactly the same obligations” as other public schools to provide for children with disabilities or special needs, he said. If the state grants its charter, MCA is likely to apply for funds set aside by the state for charter schools, Tanner said, and will not be receiving funds from Hillsdale College – nor will it incorporate religious curriculum. Although the school hasn’t yet identified its leadership team or set salaries, the trustees feel confident they can attract a well-qualified faculty in a competitive environment, he said.
“If all goes well, we hope to have our charter application considered by the State Board of Education sometime later this year,” Tanner said. Meanwhile, trustees are looking into where to site the school, fundraising, and working out curriculum details, drawing on educational resources from the Barney Charter School Initiative. The group is primarily searching for a site in the Peterborough, Dublin, and Jaffrey area, trustee Leo Plante said.