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NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

NEWS SITE S E P 1 }. M BLR Q . 2 0 0 2

Unions I

LABORERS OPEN A CHARTER SCHOOL ■ ■■itli the Sept. 4 opening of a new ■Bl .school year in Cranston, R.I., high ■ ■ school students will be able to choose more than just extra curricular activities. The city’s first charter school will open its doors to a freshman class with an interest in construction. The New England l.aborers-Cranston Public Schoofs Construction Career Academy is a partnership between the laborers’ union and the Cranston Public Schools, It will offer students a “project­ based integrated system” that merges a construction-specific curriculum with required classes in math, science, Eng- I lish, reading and social .studies, ft A math lesson might require students to calculate how many cubic yards of concrete need to be poured for a specif­ ic project, says Armand E. Sabitoni, gen­ V eral secretary treasurer of the Laborers’ - International Union of North America and also its New England regional man­ ager. All aspects of construction and S Construction curriculum will merge with traditional studies. environmental remediation will be taught in the school, the union’s first. district is able to “bring international boys and 10 girls will attend cla.sses in a Graduates from the accredited program industry experience, innovation and the five-year-old, 22,000-sq-ft building that will earn a high school diploma and be additional resources necessary to expand formerly housed ajewelry manufacturer. able to enter the job market at the and improve opportunities for a current­ The school system and the union con­ li apprenticeship level or go on to college. ly underserved population,” says the city. tributed funds, building materials and The laborers have a mandate from “We .saw it as a golden opportunity,” says labor to renovate the building. The site members to become an appren­ 1 iborers' General President Ter- i.s near one of the traditional high ticeable craft by 2004. This goal, I® ence M. O’Sullivan, a former schools, allowing students to participate coupled with continuing labor high .school teacher. Lining up in sports and hobbies. “All those things shortages, wars key to starting the IB local and state approval and ini- were on the plus side for us not going charter school. The number of tl funding took about a year to solo,” says Sabitoni. qualified recruits was shrinking. ♦ I omplete, much quicker than The school is governed by a seven- says Sabitoni, Recruiters from . '■ the typical 18 months to three member board of directors, which the union’s training centers wet e BEK -S' ■I years often required to start a includes two union representatives, a having difficulty finding candi- sabitoni d'larter school, says Sabitoni. union contractor, the head of the local dates who were drug free and . Funds for the school come teachers’ union, a parent and two school had a high .school education. “Our goal from the federal and state government district officials. All governance and was to replace some of the graying jour­ and from the union. The feds and the financial decisions arc funneled through neymen,” he says. state allotted $9,000 per student in start­ die board, says .Sabitoni. Union officials got the idea of a con­ up costs and the state kicked in an addi­ “We got to the finish line,” Sabitoni 1 struction-oriented charter school from tional grant of $190,000. The laborers’ says with a .sigh of relief. “I’m sure we’re one started two years ag'O in St. Louis. union is contributing $.500,000. It will be going to have some growing pains.” The Cranston public school system was a spent on computers, desks and other .Sabitoni says the union also is launching j willing partner. The third-largest city in equipment, and about $75,000 will go a pilot program in the Medford, Mass., Rhode Island with a population of for .salary and benefits to three union public school .system. An instructor from 76,000, Cranston was home to two pub­ instructors who will work with five teach­ the union’s regional training academy lic high .schools and a vocational pro­ ers in die classroom. The teachers, four will teach in the local vocational sdiool, gram that taught home and interior entry-level and one experienced, will be possibly as a precursor to starting anoth- building skills as part of its curriculum. paid the standard teachers’ union scale. er charter school. O By teaming with the union, the school The expected freshman class of 42 By Sherie Winston

I 34 ENR/SEPTEMBER 9, 2002

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