MALDEN – After a special meeting on Monday, The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved the application for charter for the Worcester Cultural Academy during its meeting on Tuesday by a vote of 7 to 4.
During the public comment period, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, state Rep. David LeBoeuf, state Senators Anne Gobi, Robyn Kennedy. and Michael Moore, and Worcester School Committee members Tracy O’Connell Novick, Jermoh Kamara, and Sue Mailman all spoke against the school’s application.
The affirmative vote by the board enables Worcester Cultural Academy to enter the process for opening. More analysis by the board and staff at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) takes place before the school will be enabled to open classes.
On Monday, the Worcester School Committee voted unanimously to refer the academy to the state auditor based on its ties to the Sturbridge-based museum, Old Sturbridge Village. A charter school in Sturbridge, Old Sturbridge Academy, also have ties to Old Sturbridge Village. That school was founded in 2017.
Opponents of the charter school in Worcester have consistently criticized its ties to Old Sturbridge Village based on a letter written by Old Sturbridge Village President and CEO Jim Donahue that appeared on page five of the 2022 annual report of the museum. In that letter, Donahue said:
“Our Academies are key to the future of the Village and expanding into Worcester will allow the Village to impact a greater number of students in an entirely new geographic area The Academies will provide reliable, contractual revenue to the museum, safeguarding us against fluctuations in uncontrollable factors that impact admission revenue such as weather and public health.”
Applications for students at the Worcester Cultural Academy are being accepted on the Old Sturbridge Village website.
The school has also faced scrutiny over the terms of its lease for its 81 Plantation St. The property is leased from the Diocese of Worcester. The lease terms prohibit “use of the Premises which would be inconsistent with the doctrines or teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.” The agreement gives Worcester Diocese Bishop Robert McManus the sole discretion to determine what is and is not prohibited use of the property.
Here is how each member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted on the motion to approve the Worcester Cultural Academy’s application:
- yes – Katherine Craven, Chair (Brookline)
- yes – Matt Hills, Vice-Chair (Newton)
- yes – Tricia Canavan (South Hadley)
- no – Darlene Lombos (Boston)
- yes – Farzana Mohamed (Newton)
- yes – Michael Moriarty (Holyoke)
- no – Eric Plankey, student member (Westford)
- yes – Paymon Rouhanifard (Boston)
- no – Mary Ann Stewart (Lexington)
- no – Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, Secretary of Education (Andover)
- yes – Martin West (Newton)
Governor Maura Healey named Tutwiler as her selection for Secretary of the Executive Office of Education in December. He was one of the first cabinet selections she announced after being elected.
Tutwiler explained why he chose to vote no on approving the charter application.
At the final opportunity to comment, the three members who voted with Tutwiler also offered comments.
Eric Plankey, student member (Westford)
Darlene Lombos (Boston)
Mary Ann Stewart (Lexington)
The only member to vote no who commented immediately prior to the vote was Matt Hills, Vice-Chair (Newton).
