In September, Camden families will have two new schools where they can send their children called renaissance schools, which are hybrids of public and charter schools. Over the next five years, both could draw as many as 7,000 kids out of the Camden system, whose rock-bottom graduation rates and financial troubles led to a state takeover last September. Camden Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard told NJTV News Anchor Mary Alice Williams that he is excited to be able to provide high quality school options for students and families.
Not everyone was happy about the decision to start the renaissance schools, but Rouhanifard said that he is thrilled to present two new high schools and quality school options for students and families in a district that desperately needs high quality schools.
He said that there was one group in the suburbs of New Jersey that criticized the announcement of the new schools but for the school district, it is about what the families need. He said that the group made some arguments about legal issues after the announcement, which he said are without merit.
When asked how the schools work, Rouhanifard said that there are two unique qualities. Unlike traditional charter schools, the renaissance schools serve a neighborhood so any student and family that lives in that neighborhood has a preference to that school. He said that the schools also come with increased funding to provide new facilities and for the school district in Camden, half of the buildings were developed before 1928. He said that is why they are in need of higher quality facilities.
Rouhanifard said that the schools will have the opportunity to recruit their own staff, which offers the autonomy to run great schools.
Some teachers in the Camden School District have been offered early retirement. Rouhanifard said that there was a bill that was recently approved by legislators, which is still waiting for Gov. Chris Christie’s signature, that would allow for an early retirement program.
“There are actually three renaissance schools that are going to be opening their doors in the fall. One was approved about a year ago and each of them will figure something out in the short term, whether it is modular space. We may be able to find them facilities that they would be in temporarily, as they build their new facilities from the ground up,” said Rouhanifard.
Camden recruited two non-profit organizations to help build the schools. Rouhanifard said that what makes the build incredibly exciting for the district is to be able to recruit two very proven non-profit organizations. He said that both have a long history serving students and families of need at a very high level.
“There is no question that the city has certainly grappled with poverty and crime but what I can tell you, one of my biggest take-aways from the last 10 months is we have incredible students who can achieve at the highest level. We just got to give them opportunity,” said Rouhanifard.