Sun, The (Lowell, MA)
March 23, 2012
Section: Letter To The Editor
Innovation Academy is worth the investment
This letter is in response to the article that appeared in the Saturday, March 10, edition of The Sun about some parents' reaction to Innovation Academy Charter School's (IACS) fundraising effort. My family is new to Innovation Academy this year with a fifth-grader and seventh- grader enrolled in the school. While charter schools are public schools, as the article outlined, there are differences in how they're funded, specifically in the area of capital- expansion projects, which is why the IACS community is being asked to help raise funds for the new sports and academic facilities.
For me, personally, the IA experience has offered a tremendous opportunity for my children both in terms of the quality and style of education. I have been exposed to private grade schools both in my own education and that of one of my older children, and in my opinion, Innovation Academy offers an experience that is on par with some of the finest private schools in the area.
In the first few weeks of our IACS experience, I was struck by the "feel" of the school.
Everything about it reminded me of my private-school experience in terms of the effectiveness of the administration, the sense of discipline, the structure of the curriculum, and the quality and dedication of the teaching staff. Many of my decisions, both financial and personal, are made based on value - am I getting a good value for the time and money I invest in the things I do and the decisions I make? With IACS, early on I saw that we had made the right decision. I've said to friends and family that IACS is the private education without the tuition bill. When I look at Executive Director Walter Landberg's request to raise funds for the school's expansion, all I need do is look up the road at a private school like Notre Dame Academy and the tuition that parents pay for that school ($6,000 and up) and think $1,000 is a very small price to pay for IACS and the quality of opportunity it offers my children.
I understand that not all parents can contribute such a large sum to the effort. But I would challenge any IACS parents to make their own decision about value. When you examine the value of the education experience that your child is getting atInnovation Academy, can you honestly acknowledge that IACS offers a far greater educational opportunity than any public school system in the Merrimack Valley?
If your answer is yes, then give what you can and be very thankful that your child is fortunate enough to call IACS home.
ROBERT J. DESIMONE Dracut
(c) 2012 The Sun (Lowell, MA). All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
March 23, 2012
Section: Letter To The Editor
Innovation Academy is worth the investment
This letter is in response to the article that appeared in the Saturday, March 10, edition of The Sun about some parents' reaction to Innovation Academy Charter School's (IACS) fundraising effort. My family is new to Innovation Academy this year with a fifth-grader and seventh- grader enrolled in the school. While charter schools are public schools, as the article outlined, there are differences in how they're funded, specifically in the area of capital- expansion projects, which is why the IACS community is being asked to help raise funds for the new sports and academic facilities.
For me, personally, the IA experience has offered a tremendous opportunity for my children both in terms of the quality and style of education. I have been exposed to private grade schools both in my own education and that of one of my older children, and in my opinion, Innovation Academy offers an experience that is on par with some of the finest private schools in the area.
In the first few weeks of our IACS experience, I was struck by the "feel" of the school.
Everything about it reminded me of my private-school experience in terms of the effectiveness of the administration, the sense of discipline, the structure of the curriculum, and the quality and dedication of the teaching staff. Many of my decisions, both financial and personal, are made based on value - am I getting a good value for the time and money I invest in the things I do and the decisions I make? With IACS, early on I saw that we had made the right decision. I've said to friends and family that IACS is the private education without the tuition bill. When I look at Executive Director Walter Landberg's request to raise funds for the school's expansion, all I need do is look up the road at a private school like Notre Dame Academy and the tuition that parents pay for that school ($6,000 and up) and think $1,000 is a very small price to pay for IACS and the quality of opportunity it offers my children.
I understand that not all parents can contribute such a large sum to the effort. But I would challenge any IACS parents to make their own decision about value. When you examine the value of the education experience that your child is getting atInnovation Academy, can you honestly acknowledge that IACS offers a far greater educational opportunity than any public school system in the Merrimack Valley?
If your answer is yes, then give what you can and be very thankful that your child is fortunate enough to call IACS home.
ROBERT J. DESIMONE Dracut
(c) 2012 The Sun (Lowell, MA). All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.