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Brentwood Press - OakleyPress_10.03.08 - Index

14A | BRENTWOODPRESS.COM EDUCATION OCTOBER 3, 2008
Boys’ charter school impresses at
Antioch school board meeting
by Dave Roberts
Staff Writer
A couple of Antioch Middle School
teachers seeking to open a charter school
focused on teaching math and science to
African-American boys (but open to all
boys) received praise from Antioch Unifi ed
School District Board members last week.
Karla Branch and Lawrence Rasheed
made an impressive presentation for their
proposed RAAMP Charter Academy of
Mathematics and Science. RAAMP stands
for Reaching African-American Males’
Potential, which is the name of the student
group that Rasheed mentors at his school.
The board room at the recent meeting
was packed with charter school supporters,
many of whom spoke after Branch and
Rasheed’s slide presentation.
Branch pointed out that “the
achievement gap is huge for minority
populations.” In AUSD schools, 60 percent
of whites are profi cient in English compared
to only 29 percent of African-Americans
and 27 percent of Latinos. In math, 53
percent of whites are profi cient compared
to only 30 percent of Latinos and 24 percent
of African-Americans. At the same time,
the United States lags far behind other
industrialized countries in math (25th) and
science (21st) education.
Their proposed charter school is
“designed to engage our minority students
into math and science,” said Branch. They
plan to make it a K through ninth-grade
school to provide an extra year of study that
includes biology and geometry.
“We feel they need that extra year in
an environment where they can focus on
academics and not worry about the pressures
of high school and not getting behind in
credits,” said Branch. “So when we release
them back into the comprehensive high
schools, they will be on track and ready to
excel through graduation and hopefully onto
college.
“We want to get those deemed at risk
for failure, the ones who are removed for
behavior sometimes because they are simply
boys. Also … sometimes there’s a very good
reason why the student doesn’t go to college.
If that’s the case, we have to make them
workforce ready. We want them ready to at
least do meaningful work.”
Rasheed said that the learning will be
more hands-on than in a regular classroom
and the all-boys environment will allow the
students to drop what Rasheed called “the
mask of masculinity … that we need to be
macho, super macho. In this environment,
males become more gentlemen. They are
more chivalrous; they respect women more
so in this environment. In addition, they
don’t have the distraction of a young lady (in
the classroom).
Another innovation is that the students
will stay with the same teacher for two or
three years at a time. “For some of these
young men, consistency is the huge missing
piece of their life,” said Branch. “If we can
give it to them in the academic setting, they
will gain a comfort level and be able to engage
in the learning.”
Many people spoke in favor of the
school, including City Councilman Reggie
Moore.
“This is something I think we have
needed in this community for a very long
time,” he said. “I see this as the next natural
step in providing more choice and opportunity
in our community to enhance the quality of
life for all students in this district. I can see
where this charter school would be a great fi t
for the types of things this council is trying to
achieve in this community.”
The school board members were also
impressed. Claire Smith said that she loves
the uniforms that are planned for the new
school: kindergarten through fi rst-grade
students wear T-shirts; grades two through
four wear polo shirts, grades fi ve through
seven wear Oxford shirts; and grades eight
and nine wear a dress shirt and tie. Smith said
it makes sense to separate boys from girls in
schooling because they learn differently.
Board member Teri Lynn Shaw said
that attending an all-girls high school helped
her focus on her studies. “I’m very proud to
see this here in Antioch tonight,” she said.
“There’s an epidemic on the rise. The child is
failing. It’s scary; it’s really scary. Blessings to
you for your dedication. I commend you on
your effort and tenacity.”
Board member Gary Agopian said he’s
“very impressed” with the presentation. He
was concerned, however, about how specialeducation
students will be funded at the
charter school, given that there is currently
inadequate funding for them in district
schools.
Also he wants to make sure the school
welcomes “boys of all backgrounds. That’s
very important. It’s for all students. I
Photo by Chavean Yarbrough-Orr
Lawrence Rasheed and Karla Branch are proposing to open a charter school
focusing on teaching math and science (along with other required subjects) to
minority boys.
applaud the fact that you will make the effort
to make sure we are attracting students of all
backgrounds to the school.”
Board President Walter Ruehlig was
also impressed by the thorough presentation
and the academic professionalism of the
school’s board of directors, several of
whom have doctorates in education. But he
shared Agopian’s concern that the school be
inclusive of all groups and was concerned
that naming the school RAAMP, which
specifi es “African-American” in its name,
might give the wrong impression.
“I did have some concern and have
received some e-mail about the need for
diversity,” said Ruehlig. “Some did express
dismay, thinking it was going to be limited
to African-American males. I was very
delighted to see the picture of the students in
RAAMP; there are a number of Latinos in
that picture. I hope we do make every effort
(to reach out).
“When the Antioch Charter Academy
came before us, we encouraged them to do
more about their diversifi cation; they have
made an effort to outreach more.
“I was a bit surprised about the name.
I’m sure you have a good reason why you
are using RAAMP. That might make some
people think that ‘I’m not welcome.’ (But)
that doesn’t seem to have stopped people
at Antioch Middle School from joining the
club.”
With that, Ruehlig banged his gavel to
close the public hearing. The charter school
application will be scrutinized by AUSD
administrators and a lawyer to make sure it
meets the requirements of the state education
code. It’s scheduled to be voted on by the
board on Nov. 12.
For more information go online to
www.raamp.com.