Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter is looking to expand its program to a campus in the Poconos for a “less stressful” learning environment for students with behavioral and emotional challenges, but the plan was met with some resistance from the Allentown School Board.
Lincoln Leadership Academy’s CEO Sandra Figueroa-Torres asked the board Thursday night for approval, but directors had a number of questions and tabled the matter. Charter schools are independently operated, but need the permission of their home district’s school board for expansion projections.
The Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School Foundation would purchase a facility at 183 Sullivan Trail in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County and 96 acres of land for a total of 97 acres. The property is owned by Life Church Ministries and was used as a church.
“The purpose is to use the outdoors and nature to teach environmental literacy to our students in an environment that is more conducive to learning and less stressful than our urban environments,” Figueroa-Torres said.
On Friday, Sis-Obed Torres-Cordero, director of operations at the charter school, declined to say how much the Poconos site would cost. He said the charter school plans to pay rent to its foundation. The charter school will apply for lease reimbursements from the state, which is allowed as long as the charter school is not listed as the owner of the building.
More than half of students at Lincoln Leadership are economically disadvantaged, according to state numbers. About 13 percent are labeled special education. Figueroa-Torres said there is also a high number of students suffering from traumas, and learning in a quieter and less traditional environment might benefit them more.
Lincoln Leadership would keep its main location at 1414 E Cedar St. in East Allentown.
In addition to serving students with behavioral and emotional issues, the Poconos facility would also serve all Lincoln students as a science/nature center. Students aren’t expected to go to the Poconos site daily, unless it’s for an alternative placement because of behavioral issues.
Figueroa-Torres said that eventually the charter school would like to partner with the school district so district students can also use the science/nature center.
Superintendent Thomas Parker expressed frustration with the rising cost of charter schools that he said is “constraining resources in the district and limiting the capacity to meet the needs of our kids effectively.”
“With those resources back in our district, we can do a lot of great things as well,” Parker said. “I’m not anti-charter, I’m pro-district.”
Director Charlie Thiel said he didn’t feel comfortable with the real estate request, and also had questions about the foundation leasing to the charter school.
In response to Thiel, Director Ce-Ce Gerlach said she doesn’t see the request hurting students or costing the district money. Board Vice President Elizabeth Martinez complimented the charter school for being transparent in asking the board’s permission. Director Cheryl Johnson-Watts praised the charter school for its 100 percent graduation rate and dual enrollment program.
But Director Lisa Conover voiced concerns as the district competes with charter schools over student enrollment.
“Coming to us and asking us doesn’t mean we’re going to say yes,” Conover said. “We have to take care of our own kids.”
Charter schools are funded by student tuition that is funneled from school districts, which creates frustration from the districts. This year, Allentown is paying more than $50 million in charter school tuition. The district is projected to pay more than $60 million next year, Parker said.
In response to Parker’s comments, Director Cheryl Johnson-Watts said Lincoln Leadership could serve as a model for the school district in academics.
“We have to squeeze dollars no matter what, but we also have to sometimes allow people to show us a better way,” Johnson-Watts said.
The Poconos campus would be about an hour’s drive from Allentown. Figueroa-Torres said details are still being ironed out, but students would likely be picked up at 8 a.m. and home by 4:30 p.m.
The charter school would fund the transportation bill to the Poconos and it would not cost the district, Figueroa-Torres said. Lincoln Leadership is also not looking to expand its enrollment, she said.
Lincoln Leadership has not rolled out the program yet to parents because the school wanted permission first from the school board.
The board voted 7-2 to table the charter school’s request.
