Washington Yu Ying Public Charter Schools is one of three charters vying to occupy the city's empty Franklin School building. Yu Ying executive director Mary Shaffner said moving into the historic structure at 13th and K streets would require some work, but “it's not like we'd be turning it from a farm into a school.”
We don't know of any local charters that have converted barns into educational structures, but we have seen charter schools move into church basements, Laundromats and office buildings.
As the city selects entities to lease and buy buildings that used to house traditional public schools — including the Franklin building — we hope it will focus on charters.
One reason charters should move into empty school buildings is that churches and commercial buildings often lack necessary facilities for students, such as play areas and cafeterias. School officials can spend large amounts renovating these spaces simply to provide basic needs. It seems the taxpayer dollars that go to charters would be better spent on teachers and materials than on converting inappropriate buildings — especially when empty schools are there to be had.
Moving charter schools into empty school buildings isn't just appropriate: The law urges it. The city is required to offer charters a right of first refusal on empty school buildings.
The deputy mayor for planning and economic development has done just that with the Franklin school, and now he will decide whether any of the charter proposals is adequate. According to city officials, he has the power to reject all three and to release a new request for proposals, opening the process to developers and other bidders. We trust he will have the good judgment not to.