10/31/2024
Please note the following press release sent to the Olean Times Herald. We will be forever grateful for the support we received from community members, and hope this clarifies what occurred.
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Contact:**
Shannon McIntyre
Public Contact
Olean Academy Charter School
716-436-8099
[email protected]
October 29, 2024
**Olean Academy Charter School Disbands Following Questionable Evaluation Process
Olean, NY – Olean Academy Charter School, a promising educational proposal in Cattaraugus County, has made the heartbreaking decision to disband following an evaluation process conducted by the State University of New York Charter Schools Institute (SUNY CSI). This decision represents a significant loss for our community, which has long sought alternative educational opportunities that complement our public school system. Gratitude to the parents, businesses, and community members who supported the endeavor cannot be fully expressed.
Charter schools, like the proposed Olean Academy, are intended to foster innovation and accountability in education, serving as a critical resource for families. The reluctance of SUNY CSI to entertain an application for a rural charter school was understood, and the OACS board developed an application that spoke to the sustainability issues of a rural charter school. However, the evaluation process overseen by SUNY CSI has proven to lack the transparency and integrity essential for meaningful engagement.
During the charter application period, the response and support from local leaders was overwhelmingly positive. Despite this tremendous community backing and the clear need for charter school options in Cattaraugus County—an area that has never had a charter school—SUNY CSI’s decision not only disregarded the enthusiasm and commitment of the stakeholders, but also reflected a troubling trend where smaller communities are overlooked in favor of larger urban centers, even when they demonstrate a clear need for support and improvement, and submit a solid and viable application for a charter school. Please note the following article: https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2024/07/17/suny-charter-cap-school-approval-nyc-success-zeta/
Olean Academy Charter School embodies the very qualities that SUNY CSI claims to value in future charter school proposals. As the board disbands, they urge the SUNY Charter Schools Institute to reflect on its responsibilities and the consequences of its actions. The future of educational opportunities for children in rural communities hinges on a more transparent, accountable evaluation process that truly values the voices of all stakeholders. The public contact noted that “supporters will remain in our hearts, and the hearts of the community members who truly saw our vision”.
To express your support of Olean Academy, please contact Tanya Lewis-Jones, Director of New Charters at 518-445-4250
Some of the people who submitted charter proposals that weren’t selected expressed disappointment that SUNY favored larger networks and operators that have more campuses, resources, and political capital.
