11th anniversary book 114 FINAL online - Flipbook - Page 46
Expansion for a High School
In response to students and their families requests, Evergreen plans to offer a high school for its students. An
application was submitted to the New York State Education Department in December 2019. Our proposal is
to start with a ninth grade for the 2020-2021 school year with fifty students.
Public School Hearing For A High School Expansion
On February 24, 2020 a public hearing was held for Evergreen’s expansion request for a high school at
Hempstead High School. Over 400 Evergreen students, parents, and staff attended the hearing. It was an
exciting day to see our families nearly fill the auditorium.
Despite our large presence, The Hempstead Superintendent limited Evergreen Charter School’s
presentation in support of expansion to 18 minutes and 47 seconds. The Superintendent allowed those
against Evergreen’s expansion to speak for 35 minutes and 28 seconds.
There were many people from Evergreen who wanted to speak and could not because the Superintendent
limited the time of the hearing. Only one parent from Evergreen was allowed to speak.
This treatment is unacceptable and totally discriminatory. The Academy Charter School, another charter
school in Hempstead, confirmed verbally to us that they never experienced this type of treatment from the
Hempstead School District during their public hearings to expand the Academy.
Following the hearing we had a meaningful dialogue with students from Hempstead High School about charter
school funding and how our school operates with less funds than the public school district. We encouraged
them to become educated. One student indicated that he regretted speaking against our expansion knowing
about our intentions and how funding is allocated. He said he was misinformed by Hempstead administrators.
Furthermore, we found that Hempstead High School students had been told that their clubs would be eliminated
if Evergreen was allowed to expand to have a high school and they were asked to attend the hearing and
speak against our expansion for this reason. Additionally, students informed us that they received community
service credit hours for participating.
COVID-19
We began preparations for the COVID-19 outbreak in February 2020 educating and informing our students
and families to take health and sanitary precautions. Fliers and other educational information were sent
home and posted for families, as well. We also began preparations in the event the school needed to close
with staff and administrators. Staff planned for distance learning and prepared educational packets for all
students, including our younger students, and those who did not have access to digital learning. Also, we
took precautions to clean our facility for two consecutive weekends prior to the school’s official closure using
nontoxic liquids and sprays that kill the virus.
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