Second Charter School For Utica Not Moving Forward

A proposal for a second charter school in Utica will not be moving forward.

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi says the application from the Mohawk Valley Community Charter School is not among the latest round of proposals that will be reviewed beginning this week by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

Brindisi says the overburdened Utica School District cannot afford to lose over a million dollars a year in state funding to support another charter school.

He also thanked the nearly 1,500  people who signed petitions against the proposal.

The Mohawk Valley Community Charter School Board had proposed opening a K through first grade charter school in Utica in the fall of 2015 and then expanding it to a K through five school by the fifth year.

Officials with the Mohawk Valley Community Charter School say they feel a deep sense of disappointment for the families and students in the Utica School District with the loss of this opportunity for a choice in their public education.

No further plans are currently being made by the charter school's founding group.