After numerous parents, teachers, and community speakers have voiced dissent, Mayor Segarra has come forward with the promise of not supporting the proposal to give the Clark School (public) over to Achievement First (charter).

In a statement issued late this morning, Segarra acknowledged that there are other ways to improve Clark School without resorting to drastic measures. He says:

At the last Board of Education meeting on October 29, I indicated clearly that any decision regarding a redesign of Clark Elementary would be predicated upon parental involvement and support. I’ve listened to the concerns and given parents’ profound opposition I will not support the conversion of Clark Elementary to an Achievement First Charter School.   I am committed to identifying an alternate solution that meets our objective of accelerating student learning and closing Hartford’s achievement gap. I encourage all those invested in this issue to stay involved. We have an obligation to prepare students for the future and to do that requires collaboration from all stakeholders including parents, educators, residents and businesses. We should continue to focus on our common goal of improving Hartford schools so that every student has access to the education they deserve.

While this is something that the Board of Education can still weigh in on, it’s understood that with five of the nine BOE members appointed by the mayor, it’s unlikely that a vote would go in any other direction.