WASHINGTON – The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools will honor Cumberland Mayor Daniel J. McKee as a recipient of the 2009 Champion for Charters Award at a Capitol Hill reception in Washington, D.C., next month for his “leadership and contributions to the development of high-quality public charter schools,” the organization said in a news release today.
Others to be honored are U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Georgia State Rep. Jan Jones. Mayors who received the award in the past include Mayor Richard N. Daley of Chicago in 2007 and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City in 2008, the alliance said.
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“These policy-makers stand out as leaders committed to promoting excellence and innovation in public education,” said Nelson Smith, president and CEO of the national alliance. “Each has helped to lead the fight to expand the number of high-quality public charter schools and broaden students’ options for a first-class education.”
The awards ceremony will be held May 5, part of National Charter Schools Week celebrated May 3 through 9.
McKee, honored for his work to establish mayoral academies in Rhode Island, told the Providence Business News today that he “certainly” is honored by the recognition. When he first received word of it, he said he figured two or three people from every state would receive awards, so he was surprised to see how few actually are being honored.
But more than an honor for him personally, McKee said, the award recognizes that “what we’re working on has national implications” and should help move along ongoing plans for the first mayoral academy, Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley, scheduled to open in the fall for kindergarten pupils.
McKee said the award would not be possible without the “strong support” of General Assembly members, such as House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox, House Majority Whip Peter F. Kilmartin of Pawtucket, House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino and Rep. Kenneth A. Vaudreuil of Central Falls.
Legislation enacted last year created the Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA) to oversee the education model in the state. Mayoral academies will be governed by local mayors, rather than school boards, and are not required to conform to some of the same regulations as local school districts and existing charter schools. The mayoral schools will operate without adherence to labor contracts, so teachers need not receive tenure, wages at union rates and other benefits.
Correction: Due to an editing error, a previous headline on this article described Daniel J. McKee as the mayor of Pawtucket. He is the mayor of Cumberland. The headline has been corrected.
