We write in strong opposition to the requested expansion of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, and ask that you consider these significant financial and equity concerns.
A primary issue is financial. In the years since PVCICS last requested to expand its enrollment, Northampton has been required to divert $2.3 million (FY 2017), $2.5 million (FY18), $2.6 million (FY19), $2.3 million (FY20), $2.5 million (FY21), $2.8 million (FY22), $2.6 million (FY23), $2.9 million (FY24), and $3.0 million (FY25), for a total of $23.5 million away from Northampton schools, to six nearby commonwealth charter schools, to support an average of 190 students per year.
Northampton Public Schools is paying $733,832 in FY2025 for 44 Northampton students attending PVCICS. These numbers will likely increase if the requested PVCICS expansion were granted by the state board. The impact of funds diverted to charter schools on the budgets of the Northampton Public Schools and the city of Northampton’s general budget is substantial, representing 7.2% of the school system’s operating budget and 2.4% of the city’s entire operating budget.
In addition, charter schools in the commonwealth are privately run and are not democratically accountable, yet are publicly funded by taxpayers when dollars are diverted from local school district funds. The flawed charter school funding formula has resulted in Northampton receiving only a 13.1% increase in state funding for public education in 15 years which, adjusted for inflation, is effectively a 29.1% decrease in state funding for Northampton schools.
The Northampton School Committee joins with the Northampton City Council and Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra in calling on the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to reject the proposed expansion of enrollment at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School.
Holly Ghazey, Ward 1, Karen Foster-Cannon, Ward 2, Emily Serafy-Cox, Ward 4, Ann Hennessey, Ward 5, Margaret Miller, Ward 6, Kerry LaBounty, Ward 7, Aline Davis, At-Large and Gwen Agna, At-Large and Vice-Chair, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Chair.
Northampton School Committee