Rochester teachers propose SOTA-style elementary school
A new teacher-led Rochester elementary school will offer an arts-rich curriculum emphasizing active learning in long school days and provide a seamless transition to the School of the Arts — if it can get off the ground.
Vision Quest Community School exists now in draft plans created by a coalition of parents and teachers, many from School 54. Their proposal is essentially a K-6 SOTA, a visual and performing arts magnet school located in the 19th Ward and utilizing a curriculum developed by its own teachers.
There would be peer tutoring, independent research projects, many field trips and culturally-responsive curriculum. According to a draft proposal, students would learn to paint with 11 different types of paint with four different types of tools on six different surfaces, among other artistic opportunities.
"A school like this would make me want to bring my children back to the city school district," said Lynsay Diaz, a parent who now sends them to private and charter schools. "All the things I've been looking for from the district are right here."
The key is that the school would be teacher-led. That means autonomy from the city schools administration on matters like budgeting, curriculum and scheduling. It also means the school would likely need to line up at least some outside funding.
Several outside organizations, including the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Good Food Collective, have tentatively pledged support.
The Vision Quest planners presented their idea to Superintendent Bolgen Vargas and received qualified encouragement. They wanted firmer commitment from the district to help move forward, but Vargas said the district, while interested, needs more detail before bringing a proposal to the school board.
Vargas asked for more detail on how the school's governance will work — state law requires it work with some sort of outside partner, such as a college, or else convert to a charter, he said — and how it will be funded.
He also said the district cannot open any additional schools without closing existing ones, considering declining enrollment. That means Vision Quest's best opportunity might be stepping in where the state education department mandates a change at an existing, failing elementary school.
"I believe in the power of your idea," Vargas said. "But it cannot be done unless we look at it within the system and how it can fit in."
Stacie Colaprete, another parent who's been working on the proposal, expressed frustration at the pace of change while parents are sending their children out of the district.
"My son needs something now — I have five precious years to find somewhere where he fits in, he's culturally valued and his talents and abilities are appreciated," she said. "I don't want to wait until another school closes. I'll move before that happens."
JMURPHY7@DemocratandChronicle.com