The second of four informational meetings regarding the proposed Dr. Leonard Covello Charter School for Glen Cove was held on July 12 by its organizing committee. The committee members are with the Association of Italian American Educators (AIAE). Each meeting has had less than 25 people in attendance, with the majority of people being part of the AIAE. The July 12 meeting was essentially a repetition of the information given during the first meeting, however questions and tensions ran high. Some of the questions were regarding the committee's true motives for the proposed charter school, with one resident saying it seems that it will it be an Italian parochial school funded by public tax dollars.

The AIAE plans to run the school in partnership with Edison Schools, which has a national system of public schools with 38,000 students in 16 states, however, Ida Corvino Miletich, in charge of public relations for AIAE, said the relationship between the AIAE and Edison Schools is informal until the charter is granted. According to a press release issued by Ms. Miletich at press time, "A criticism is directed toward management companies who are accused of exploiting public education for a profit motive. The reality is that management companies are often research based and have access to many resources that enable them to provide a more cost-effective, efficient and productive school model." The press release continued, "The role of the AIAE is to serve as a not-for-profit fiscal agent in the developmental phase. An independent board of trustees is being established in the application process. This board will be responsible for the governance of the school and will be directly accountable to NYS educational authorities. The majority of Board members must be residents and parents of the Glen Cove community, and representative of a cross section of the population." The proposed school in Glen Cove will reflect the community and its desires, according to Ms. Miletich. The paperwork for the Dr. Covello charter school faces an Aug. 1, 2000 filing deadline. Ms. Miletich said since the June 29 informational meeting, she had not had any negative or positive feedback regarding the proposed school. She said the proposal was not a "sneak attack" as stated in a recent letter to the editor of this newspaper. Ms. Miletich said former Glen Cove schools superintendent Frank DeLuca knew of the proposal and that Mayor Thomas Suozzi also knows about the school but is staying apolitical. When reached for comment by this reporter regarding the proposed school, Mayor Suozzi said he is "not in favor of charter schools, period."

According to Ms. Miletich, the organizing committee needs the consent of 200 families with children in K-2 to proceed in their charter application. The proposed school will be "based on educational standards of excellence in which all aspects of the curriculum reflect and enhance a humanistic central core with English, Latin and Greek as academic languages; the strengths in the 2,500-year-old legacy of Greco-Roman civilization and its influence on Western civilization, combined with the resources of modern technology." Ms. Miletich said the charter school will improve the education in Glen Cove's public schools, not undermine it. That statement touched off a boisterous discussion.

One Glen Cove resident said that Glen Cove is under austerity and the money leaving the district and following a child to the Edison-run school, (a for-profit, publicly traded enterprise), would hurt the budget. In response, Carlo Schiattarella, vice president of development for Edison schools, said charter schools offer parents a choice, which prompted that same resident to say that charter school are not held to the same standards as the public schools. Mr. Schiattarella said the bottom line for Edison schools is student achievement, otherwise Edison is out of business. Another resident responded, "If you're offering such a great product, why not have a private school rather than take money from public schools." Mrs. Concetta DiMaggio, a member of the AIAE organizing committee, said the committee wants an opportunity to have another school in Glen Cove. "St. Pat's has the Irish and Spanish and a school. We Italians have nothing in Glen Cove," she said.

Edison plans to have a longer school day and a longer school year. Each school day begins with a 10-15 minute lesson on Edison "Core Values,"" which are largely based on respect and responsibility. The teacher student ratio for the proposed school will be 25:1 with an aide in the kindergarten class.

Bob Lupinskie said, "The organizing committee decided upon the charter school proposal a year ago and now, six weeks before your deadline, you want community input for a school open to Glen Cove kids and kids within 15 miles." Mr. Lupinskie said many members of the organizing committee are not residents of Glen Cove and asked, "Why didn't you propose this school in your hometowns? If you want to bet kids, bet your own."

(At press time, this newspaper was notified that the informational meetings scheduled for July 19 and 25 have been canceled. No explanation was given.)