Proposed Charter School Plans Eagledale Location

Issac Bernard Photo by Linda Karn

Dr. Theressa Wright's mission started six years ago to improve children's academic skills with a focus on math and science by creating a charter school. Her dream is one step closer to reality with May 29 public hearing to establish Imagine West Charter School. The public hearing is one of the steps necessary to receive approval from Ball State University Charter School. Approval is still pending.

Dr. Wright and the other board of directors members sought out the educational management organization Imagine Schools to operate a 500 student Kindergarten through Eighth Grade school. She said initially the group worked with Concept Schools group that started the Indiana Math and Science Academy last year. She said initially the directors wanted to seek a charter sponsorship through the city and not with Ball State, but after discussion with the city the board of directors decided to go with Ball State.

Dr. Wright used her own life story to stress the importance that Imagine is not seeking the “cream of the crop students” for enrollment.

Dr. Wright credited her IPS science teacher Mr. Green who told her “not to let her circumstances determine who you become.” Dr. Wright explained that she was raised in the foster care system that she could have let diminish her true capabilities. She said that Mr. Green saw something in her and inspired her to go beyond her limitations to become a medical doctor.

Dr. Wright sees it first hand how the lack of math and science skills jeopardizes student admissions into medical school. The deficiencies in math and science require students to take extra classes to catch up. It is not because the students are not smart, they did not have the opportunities to take the courses in high school.

Board member Issac Bernard said he joined the board a couple of months ago because of his concern that “America is falling behind and  it now ranks 17th among the top 23 industrialize countries.  I have seen our country deteriorating because of our lack of science. Nationally our students are only getting 25 minutes of science a day.”

He explained the new term he heard called “knowledge economy.” US kids are competing with students in China and Japan for future jobs due to the global economy.  Bernard wants to reverse the decline by “infusing science” at an earlier age. He finds fault with the educational system for starting physics in high school when other countries begin teaching the course in elementary and middle school.

Troy Bell of Imagine said the curriculum is designed so students will devote 60 to 120 minutes reading a day to serve as a foundation for science classes.

Bell explained the charter school will reach out to the people who don't know what charter schools are. Bell said if more tan 500 students enroll, a lottery will be used to provide an equal opportunity for acceptance with preference given to families with children already enrolled. Part of the proposal calls for Imagine to purchase the ten acre Eagledale Baptist Church property at 4950 W. 34th St.

Keith Marsh, assistant director of BSU Charter Schools, said that charter schools have changed since they initially started.  They now attract “the low performing students.” Ball State plans to sponsor 50 charter schools throughout the state. Currently, BSU sponsors 22 schools.

Wayne Township Assessor Mike McCormack said  that charter schools represent eight percent of the property taxes in Wayne Township and that as more charter schools are added it will require more tax support for education. He said “Wayne Township paid $20 million for charter schools in 2005.” McCormack said he does not oppose charter schools, but they do require tax dollars for funding.

Jason Bryant of Imagine said Imagine is a corporation that was started by Dennis Bakke, founder of AES. Imagine has 51 schools nationwide.  Bakke has funded the schools by using $200 million of his own money. It cost about $400,000 to start a charter school.