The Baltimore City school board approved the creation of nine transformation schools Tuesday for students in sixth through 12th grade, but not before facing criticism over the placement of others.
The transformation schools — three alternative schools for at-risk students and six college preparatory schools — will open next year, joining six others that opened this year as part of schools chief Andres Alonso’s plan to open 24 by 2011.
Transformation schools eliminate the difficult transition between middle and high school and are independently run, similar to charter schools.
The school board unanimously approved all the groups that will run the nine new schools, including one that has boasted the top graduation rate in New York City, the Young Women’s Leadership Academy.
City Councilman Bill Henry urged board members to work more with the council when selecting locations for the new schools.
The board announced plans earlier this summer to put an alternative school for students at risk of dropping out at Chinquapin Middle School in Henry’s district in North Baltimore, but it did not consult residents before voting. Residents felt “disrespected,” Henry said.
Similar criticisms have cropped up from residents near city school headquarters on North Avenue, where an alternative school has been placed, and from residents in Canton, where a transformation school opened.
“Partners walk with you and beside you,” Henry said, “not behind you.”
Board President Brian Morris said he moved up voting on the alternative school location, because he feared that waiting would not leave enough time to arrange the school in the building.
With the new transformation schools taking shape almost a year before they are set to open, the school system hopes to avoid similar miscommunications with the City Council and residents, Alonso said.
“Every year there are lessons learned,” Alonso said.
“We know we need to communicate, communicate, communicate.”
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