By David Fortier

The application for REACH Academy Charter School, which is seeking a state charter to operate in Bristol, is over 300 pages long, but there are a few pages that stand out. The first, page 207, contains a paragraph introducing a letter of support from Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano and the second, page 208, is his letter.

The next to last paragraph on p. 207 states, after mentioning the letter of support, states “The Mayor has also pledged to help identify key individuals who can fill seats on the REACH Board of Trustees and in any other way that might help bring this school, and the school choice it represents to Bristol.”

On page 208, Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano begins his letter dated Nov. 1, 2024, “I am writing to express my support for REACH Academy Charter School’s application to open in our community of Bristol, Connecticut. As Mayor, I am committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for our youth, and I believe that REACH Academy’s unique interactive model would be an extraordinary addition to our city’s educational landscape.”

Caggiano’s letter is one of several supporting REACH Academy, but the sole letter from any Bristol organization, official or community leader.

Other supportive letters are from the executive director of Arts for Learning Connecticut in Hamden, a resident of Avon, the director of a New York-based foundation, the executive director of the Connecticut Charter Schools Association and the executive director of Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity with offices in Danbury among several others.

The application can be found here.

REACH Academy has had two hearings in Bristol, both directed by the Connecticut State Department of Education at the Bristol Board of Education. The first was held Dec. 19 and the second last week on Jan. 9. Both were poorly publicized and poorly attended.

In her testimony before the state officials at last Thursday’s hearing, Acting Superintendent of Schools Iris White said, “I have not had any members of the community express their support for the charter school, nor did anyone from the Board of Education say that they have received any similar comments or interest. Therefore, we respectfully recommend that the State Board of Education not grant certification approval for this application at this time.”

The day before the Jan. 9 hearing, the Bristol Board of Education, in a symbolic gesture, voted against the application. It was a rare unanimous vote for a divided board of education.

Following the second hearing, REACH withdrew its application, stating in its email to the CT State Department of Education that it did so “in order to save both the State Board of Education and the town residents the time and energy of having to debate this issue at the January board meeting.”

“January board meeting” refers to this month’s Connecticut State Board of Education meeting.

The email also stated that REACH would be requesting a meeting with the Connecticut Department of Education sometime in February to continue “to build a mutually beneficial relationship and work together to support all the students in Bristol.”

Charters schools may be recognized on the state or local level. REACH is seeking approval on the state level.

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