What is the answer to Harrisburg’s deeply indebted and low-performing schools?
Some groups have proposed charter schools, which mostly have been rejected by the school board. Other parents send their children to a host of private schools. Yet others stick with city schools and hope for the best.
One church-affiliated group wants to give city residents another choice and, in the process, help Harrisburg’s revitalization. It plans to start a Midtown school devoted to classical education, one open to impoverished families.
New City School could open in fall 2013 or 2014, depending on financing. It would start with younger grades, possibly pre-kindergarten through second, and add a grade in each following year. Based in space owned by historic Second City Church, Green and Verbeke streets, the Christian-based school would be open to students of all faiths.
Jedidiah Slaboda, pastor of Second City Church, called the pending school a “catalyst for renewal,” meant to educate “future stewards of Harrisburg.”
Congregants developed the idea to meet city needs without duplicating existing schools. The effort isn’t meant to detract from city schools—saddled with low achievement rates and a deficit of $12 million and climbing—but provide a quality option for families at all income levels, Slaboda said.
“I think it’s going to take a long time to address the problems (of city schools),” he said. “So do we wait until those problems are addressed, or do we find other sources of income to educate the children of the city?”
New City School would offer a classical, liberal arts education emphasizing literacy and character development. By-laws require that 60 percent of students come from families in poverty.
Classical schools instill values and language skills that help students succeed in careers and as community leaders, said Christopher Perrin, Camp Hill, a classical education consultant and New City School board member. Classical schools have started nationwide, but many charge tuition that low-income families can’t afford, he said.
New City School would finance scholarships through state earned income tax credits, which allow businesses to divert tax payments to education. The school is modeled after the urban-based Logos Academy in York and the Oaks Academy in Indianapolis.
“If it is a really great education for some, why wouldn’t we try to make it available for everybody?” said Perrin, who was the first head of school for Covenant Christian Academy in Susquehanna Township.
Second City Church’s Verbeke Street complex includes a former school that still houses an after-school program but is otherwise vacant.
“How can we give this space back to the community?” Slaboda said. “We certainly don’t need it as a congregation, but even if we did, there’s certainly enough to share.”
Organizers can open the doors when they’ve raised about $100,000, said Perrin. EITC dollars can finance scholarships, but there are renovations to make and teachers to hire. So far, they’ve raised $6,000 and “have a lot of people interested,” he said. Fulton Bank stepped up with a substantial commitment, Slaboda said.
“We’re willing to start with a couple of grades and grow,” said Perrin.
Education would be tailored to city families, with a participatory school community of families, students, teachers and administrators.
“This would be a school in the city, for the city,” said Slaboda. “Hopefully, partnering with what’s good going on in the city and filling in a need where there’s a lack in the city.”
For more information, including donor opportunities, visit https://newcityschoolharrisburg.org.
