WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderChicago International Charter School gets public input

Chicago International Charter School gets public input

By Laura Gibbs

ROCKFORD(WREX) - Questioning a potential outsider looking to move to town filled seats Thursday night. The 2nd Charter school operator, Chicago International Charter School or CICS presented and then listened.

Mike Loven sees what can happen when students don't graduate high school. Loven told the school board, "I support the authorization of CICS as an employer in the area I can tell you I am flat out excited that we're focusing on education in the community."

CICS wants a K-4 school to open in Rockford this August. Patriot's Gateway provides initial space for two classrooms of each grade level. Ruth Snyder has 2 kids in District 205. Snyder says, "It has a format that I guess has been proven in Chicago and that's one of the things that we need here."

CICS teaming up with Zion Development had one neighbor near 7th Street concerned. One person told the board, "In the past they haven't contacted the neighborhood about any other of their projects till it was a done deal."

CICS Executive Director Beth Purvis states, "Our goal is to create a neighborhood school that serves Rockford and our partnership with Zion Lutheran Development Corporation is what allows us to do that."

Comments made also questioned uniforms, data-driven decision making and Rockford representation. One voter states, "One of our biggest concerns is local control." Purvis went on to say, "Some members of the board will be people affiliated with Chicago International but the majority will be people here from Rockford. And our hope is to find a principal who is from this area."

The Education Committee takes a vote on this February 17th. The week after the entire rockford school board makes the final decision. The board already approved Legacy Academy Charter school opening this Fall.