DWC-sponsored Academy for Science and Design Charter School approved by the State Board of Education

(Nashua) - Supporters for the Academy for Science and Design Charter School began speaking at 9:15 a.m. this morning during public comment at the State Board of Education meeting, Department of Education, Concord. Person after person spoke in support of the school’s program, including representatives of major technology and engineering companies, associations, and colleges.

The official presentation began with the President of Daniel Webster College, Dr. Robert E. Myers: “As President of the college, I wanted to be here today so you would hear first, from me, that Daniel Webster’s involvement in the charter school application before you is substantial and serious. From the first time our staff learned about the effort to create a high school for science and engineering, they wanted our college to become involved and to sponsor the application.

“...our college has been steadily building degree programs in aeronautics, science, and engineering. We are connected to some of the most sophisticated aeronautics and engineering corporations in the world. Our college has to be internationally competitive and continually adapting our courses and programs. And so Daniel Webster has a particular interest in a high school, or middle/high school, with a similar mission.

“To have a high school which offers specialization in science, and for these specializations to link to science and engineering degree programs in this state, will have many advantages for students, colleges, and businesses here."

Daniel Webster College Provost, Dr. Michael J. Fishbein, provided an overview of the school, which proposes to offer an internationally-competitive curriculum in science, math, and engineering. The school’s curriculum will offer specialization in seven (7) areas, each linked to colleges and businesses in New Hampshire. “We seek your approval because we believe that the Academy creates, as the law specifies, a ‘focused curriculum that meets the needs and interests of pupils, parents, communities, regions, and the state as a whole,” said Fishbein.

“The Academy will give New Hampshire its first, specialized public high school for science that is open to students statewide. We plan to open the doors in the inaugural school year of 2007 with 60-75 students in grades 8, 9, and, perhaps, 10. The school will grow gradually to include up to 450 students in grades 7 through 12 within five years. During the 11th and 12th grades, and perhaps earlier, students will be able to specialize in one of seven areas, including elective courses and research: aeronautics and aviation; chemistry and biomedicine; mathematics and physics; space, astronomy, and astronautics; environment and global sustainability; architecture; mechanical, civil and electrical engineering; and computer science, system design, and simulation,” Fishbein continued.

“The school’s program is based on mastery learning, particularly in mathematics, and curriculum that is competitive with top schools in the nation and around the world. Physics and algebra will begin in grade 7. Students must satisfy a 25-credit graduation requirement, including four credits in science, four credits in mathematics, one credit in engineering, and a senior research project.”

“Daniel Webster College seeks no exclusionary role in the Academy. To the contrary, working with our partners in this project, we welcome the participation of our colleagues. Our friends at NHCTC-Nashua have become a part of this effort, as you will hear.”

Fishbein went on to quote excerpts from a letter from Nashua’s Mayor Bernard A. Streeter, stating, “I would like the Board of Education to know that if this important proposal is awarded a charter, my office stands ready to collaborate and work out details of how the new choice school can emerge here and co-exist successfully with our existing public system and thrive as an exemplar science school of choice for the state. Surely there will be challenges, but this proposal has won support here because of its potential benefits to students, our higher education system, and the state as a whole.”

Fishbein next introduced Dr. Susan Hollins, who described the facility and financial plan. She read from a letter submitted by Lucille Jordan, president of New Hampshire Community Technical College—Nashua, indicating that NHCTC wants to participate as a co-sponsor of the new science and engineering charter school and offer the charter school space on the NHCTC campus.

Jordan wrote, “I am pleased to participate as one of the sponsors of the Academy for Science and Design and fully support the Academy’s initiative to foster programs of student that engage in the pursuit of sciences and engineering working with faculty and community mentors.” Her letter continued, “We applaud the efforts of the Academy for Science and Design and have offered (our campus) as a possible consideration for the building of the school.”

Hollins then clarified that in the NHCTC facility expansion plan, President Jordan has pasted a facsimile of a school building on her campus of the future, indicating how and where she has integrated the charter school’s location in her campus development plan.

“Daniel Webster College and NHCTC are close enough to share space, labs, students, and faculty,” Hollins commented. “The new school has already received its first commitment of philanthropy to support a major public relations and development campaign extending 2-3 years. We want to develop quality materials and then reach out to build relationships with public schools, parents, colleges, and businesses.”

Upon questioning, Hollins said that with approximately 100,000 students in grades 7-12 across the state, a school accepting 450 students represents a small percentage. She said in time, the Academy will be able to secure science, math, and engineering grants that will offer programs to schools desiring to collaborate. Hollins particularly sees the school emerging as a center for teacher training in science and mathematics, two areas of critical teacher shortage for over a decade.

Marc Lessard, Associate Research Professor in physics at University of New Hampshire and a specialist in space science, spoke next. “At a time when technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace nationally and worldwide, the formation of this new school is especially welcome. Such a school is ideal for nurturing the relationship between secondary schools, universities and industry statewide." He prefaced his comments saying that he also spoke on behalf the Dean Joseph Klewicki of the UNH’s College of Physical Science and Engineering. Dr. Lessard stressed the importance of schools emphasizing science and engineering to New Hampshire colleges and how the quality of college classes is raised by even a few students who are extremely well-prepared.

Also speaking was former Senator Jane O’Hearn, author of legislation allowing the state board to authorize charter schools. She urged support for this school and also said the state board had some responsibility to become involved in assuring equitable funding for students in public charter schools. Members of the legislature are debating state funding again and this is the time to assure funding for all public school students.

After approximately an hour of some of the most sophisticated testimony ever presented to the state board of education regarding issues and needs of international competitiveness as seen through the lens of corporations and colleges, all offering support for a specialized middle/high school for science and engineering, the Board voted 4:1 to give Daniel Webster College a charter and charter status for this proposal.

The Board had to recess for 10 minutes while the room full of supporters—engineers, former mayors, corporate attorneys, technology associations, teachers, parents, college professors and presidents, hugged and shook hands.

Commenting to the press, Hollins remarked that today’s outpouring of interest from New Hampshire college and business leaders shows that quality choice schools are becoming part of the fabric of New Hampshire’s public school system.

The Academy for Science and Design will move forward with a design team and a Board of Trustees which will assume responsibility for the effort to bring the new school to life.

For more information visit the website at www.asdnh.org and/or contact Fishbein@dwc.edu or info@nhschoolreform.org.