HADLEY — Officials at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School continue to study creation of a transportation plan for students, a condition set by the state education department in authorizing a 100-pupil enrollment increase in February.
“We’re making progress on that,” said Charles Bagley, chairman of the school’s board of trustees, during a monthly meeting on Sept. 25.
Bagley explained that he is working with Executive Director Richard Alcorn on the details, which has included having conversations with officials at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School in South Hadley to learn more about that school’s transportation plan.
Bagley is also speaking with a consultant about structured routes that would get students to the Route 9 school.
Alcorn said a description of what PVPA does will be written up and then costs will be determined, which will be presented to trustees. There will be feedback on options from parents.
Bagley said this is a time-consuming process. “There’s quite a bit of complexity on this,” Bagley said.
Submitting a plan to implement a cost-effective regional transportation plan, eligible for state reimbursement, was one of the conditions imposed by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education when, in a 6-4 vote, it narrowly supported then acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston’s recommendation to allow the K-12 school to have up to 684 students. That vote came despite significant opposition to expansion from municipal boards and committees in the area, as well as local legislators.
In addition to the transportation plan, the PVCICS board of trustees is required to engage in a comprehensive self-evaluation of its capacity and expertise, and the board is to engage in training, conducted by an external consultant, on the roles and responsibilities of a board of trustees of a charter school.
Trustee Hsinpei Lee Normand said the board is awaiting feedback and approval from the state department on the training plan.
Alcorn added that an enrollment policy was submitted to DESE as part of the amendment to expand enrollment, and revised bylaws are also being reviewed by the state agency.
The transportation plan is important for parents who have been vocal at meetings.
Erin McCarthy of Granby said parents have long asked for transportation, and parents want to offer input on whatever plan is developed.
“We are asking that the board ask for parent feedback on transportation, whether it be conducting a survey or a roundtable or both,” McCarthy said. “We’re the ones traveling 40 minutes to get our kids to the school because we care about it, so we’re hoping you’ll ask us what works for parents when it comes to transportation.”
Meanwhile, the school, which acquired an 80,000-square-foot building on Venture Way in summer 2024 for $7.15 million, continues to get that site ready to supplement the main campus at 317 Russell St.
Alcorn said he anticipates code compliance by mid-December, allowing for use of that space.
Initially, the idea is to have a fitness room on the main level, placing some equipment bought through grants and the school’s booster club. The fitness room would allow for the support of some new sports at the school, such as wrestling.
Trustees previously authorized up to $2.5 million to convert the second floor of that building into 14 high school classrooms, with the first floor possibly having a theater and performance space.
