Thriving Lynn charter school deserves the chance to grow
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The casualties of this political interference are the mostly Black, brown, and low-income children who would have been able to access the high-quality academic and family-oriented programming KIPP Academy Lynn has offered in the city for 20 years.
Mary Tamer
Executive director
MassPotential
Boston
As a parent of three KIPP Lynn students, she's disheartened by state board's vote
I was disheartened and frustrated to read about the Board of Education rejecting the expansion of KIPP Academy Lynn ('The othering of a Lynn charter school'). I am a parent of three KIPP Academy Lynn students and a public school teacher in Swampscott. I also taught at Salem Academy Charter School, which enjoyed a positive working relationship with Salem Public Schools and with Kim Driscoll when the current lieutenant governor was mayor of Salem — as KIPP Lynn did with the current state education secretary, Patrick Tutwiler, when he was superintendent of schools in Lynn.
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I understand the value of a KIPP education; how charter schools can, and should, work collaboratively with local districts; and how parents are seeking educational excellence for their children. It was disappointing to see the rationale for the rejection of the school's expansion chalked up to money and politics, when the mission should be centered on kids and families.
There is obvious demand for a spot at KIPP Lynn. More than 1,700 families are currently on the school's waiting list. They'll have to wait much longer.
Patricia Cepeda
Lynn
The writer teaches seventh grade at Swampscott Middle School.
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