Imagine a school with freshly painted walls and clean bathrooms, more exploratory opportunities, and a longer lunch hour. Some believe this is possible through recent legislative initiatives and the President's support for charter schools. Grady is a front-runner to become one. An April 21 faculty vote determined that Grady will go forward in planning for charter school status.
Since 1995, Grady has been taking the steps necessary to become a charter school. Thus far, Grady has applied for a state grant to explore charter school status, formed a charter school committee, and investigated the matter within sub-committees (such as buildings, curriculum, personnel, and discipline). On April 18, the subcommittee came together for a day-long retreat in which they presented their findings of Grady's current position to staff and parents.
This does not, however, mean that Grady will become a charter school; the next steps will be to create a task force, continue research, and write a charter. The proposed charter will be voted upon by staff, community, and the Board of Education next January, February, and March. If approved by those three groups, it will be submitted to the Georgia Board of Education in May, 1999.
Last year, Dr. Vincent Murray made Ms. Marybeth Clark, English and Civics teacher, the Charter School committee chairperson. Ms. Clark said that she is not a lead supporter of becoming a charter school, but whatever the turnout may be, "we'd have to agree; there'd be a consensus."
The goals of the committee right now, Ms. Clark explained, are to make sure everyone knows about Grady's needs and the meaning of becoming a charter school. The main question to be answered is "can we best achieve our Grady vision as part of Atlanta Public Schools [APS] or as partially independent?" she said.
That's what the main opposition against charter school status has been.
Some think that breaking away from APS would only mean more trouble for
Grady. It might be harder to attain technical or maintenance work from the
school system if we were to become a charter school. "People are uneducated;
they're scared of change," Chris Phillips, sophomore and committee
member, said.
But there has been much enthusiasm from those involved in the charter school
committee. The vote passed with 44 yeas, 13 nays, and one abstention. "I
feel that becoming a charter school would get a lot more done. It's more
direct," Phillips said.
Becoming a charter school would let Grady teachers, parents, and: students decide what they feel is best for Grady. There have already been many ideas regarding change. Students' ideas include cleaning up the building, enhancing the exploratory program, and painting the walls. Ms. Clark said that she would probably like to change the scheduling, allow for more hands-on learning experiences, and send kids out to work in the community more.
Druid Hills High School in Dekalb County has recently become a charter school. Grady has consulted with them for ideas and help. Kathryn Orr, 16, a Druid Hills student, feels she is speaking for the entire student body when she says that she likes the charter school status. As a result of becoming a charter school, Druid Hills has started a Governor's Council (a Town hall-like meeting with teacher, parent, and student representatives who discuss changes), four-by-four scheduling (four classes one day and four the next for a total of eight classes), a new drama program, more technology, job shadowing, and, expected next year, a radio station.
The next year is a critical time for Grady High School. Whatever happens could lead the school and its students in a new direction. "We want to make Grady High School the best it can be," Ms. Clark said.