Patrick Henry officials fire back at School Board criticism

The Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts is firing back at Richmond School Board criticisms that the fledgling school has "fundamental concerns" and is not meeting conditions of its charter.

In a letter Friday to parents, the board of directors' president, Sharon Burton, defends the 1½-year-old charter school's progress as "nothing short of amazing" and rebuts a letter released Wednesday by School Board Chairwoman Kimberly M. Bridges.

The charter school's board "strongly disagrees" with the criticisms and "we deeply regret the difficult relationship and adversarial tone that the School Board has chosen to take," Burton wrote. "The PHSSA Board remains committed, however, to continue to work with the School Board and RPS to meet the challenges in Ms. Bridges' letter in the same way we have met the challenges that have come before."

Bridges' letter appears to have ignited a firestorm with parents and comes as the charter school is preparing for its long-awaited move into the former Patrick Henry Elementary School on Semmes Avenue.

Parents are preparing to rally to the School Board's first meeting in January, said Joy Simpson, president of the charter school's parent teacher association.

She said city school officials appear to be mounting a "smear campaign" against the city's first and only charter school, and she accused School Board member Maurice Henderson of taking over Thursday night's holiday-themed PTA meeting by distributing copies of Bridges' letter and speaking to the School Board's concerns.

"This was an intentional ambush," Simpson said. "It was a hijack. … It was completely inappropriate."

Henderson, whose 5th District includes the Patrick Henry building, said he attended the meeting "to make sure the parents were understanding our concerns for delivering the letter."

In her letter, Bridges says a recent charter-compliance review identified major issues with Patrick Henry's financial stability and reporting, as well as its curriculum and personnel issues.

Burton responded in bullet-point fashion, defending the school's academic performance, its financial reporting and stewardship, and its handling of a first phase of renovations to the Patrick Henry building.

She also says that Richmond Public Schools' enrollment increase of 460 students last year — the system's first year-to-year jump since 1996 — was largely because of Patrick Henry.

Burton described some of Bridges' characterizations as misleading and lacking sufficient context and others as simply false. She said that, contrary to Bridges' letter, the charter school is meeting its commitment to offer an integrated science and arts curriculum.

"You know this because your children experience that curriculum every day," Burton said in her letter.

Bridges reiterated Friday that the curriculum requirement has not been met and said recent meetings between school and Patrick Henry officials have focused on trying to move toward compliance.

Burton also said Bridges' letter implies that turnover of the charter school's treasurers has hurt the school's financial reporting and accountability.

Burton said the school's four treasurers "have done nothing less than an outstanding job" and that their departures have not negatively affected the school's finances.

In an interview, Burton said the charter school and its parents are trying to focus on finishing renovations to the Patrick Henry building so the school can be moved over the coming weeks.

The school, which has about 185 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, has been operating out of Woodland Heights Baptist Church.

"I'm not sure where it's going," Burton said of the School Board's concerns. "I'm not sure of the intent, but the Patrick Henry board and parents are intent on one thing: getting into the building so we'll have the space for (students) to be educated."