Mayor Visits Kingsman

On Wednesday morning I attended the dedication ceremony at the former Kingsman Elementary School. There were several people there, including students from both Options and Sasha Bruce charter schools, the two schools that will be sharing the campus next year.

A representative from the Charter Schools Development Corporation (CSDC) led the ceremony. Speakers included Council Member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6), Mayor Williams (D) and Nina Rees, a deputy undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Education.

Ms. Ambrose impressed me the most, because she seemed genuinely excited about the school and the possibilities it brings to the neighborhood. She encouraged the schools to build a relationship with the surrounding community and vice versa.

Harold Thomas, the principal of Sasha Bruce, led a tour of the annex after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The annex has about 15 classrooms, each beautifully decorated and equipped with three or more new computers for the students. The playground out back is limited: there is a basketball court, but the rest of the blacktop is covered with glass. They are still working on the plans for the rest of the blacktop area.

I spoke briefly with a teacher from Options on my way out. She said Options currently includes fourth through ninth grades but is hoping to eventually expand to kindergarten through ninth.

All construction should be done by next September, if not earlier, according to the CSDC spokesman.

I hope there is a forum in the future that will give us a chance to ask some questions and meet some representatives from both schools. §