The city-chartered Maasai school at 4744 N. 39th St. is voluntarily having its charter revoked after financial difficulties forced the school to close this summer, according to city documents.
The school’s Board of Directors informed the city’s Charter School Review Committee in May that Maasai, which won its city charter in 2005, had a projected September deficit of $400,000,
“On June 19, 2008, the Maasai Institute’s Board of Directors informed the CSRC in writing at its public hearing that their bank did not want to take the risk of providing Maasai Institute access to an additional line-of-credit to help the school pay off its remaining debts in order to remain open for the 2008-09 school term,” according to a draft report to be presented to the Common Council’s Steering and Rules Committee this week. “Therefore, Maasai Institute reached the conclusion to officially cease operations of Maasai Institute and asked the CSRC to provide them with direction for taking the appropriate steps in closing the school.”
The school had about 176 students last year, according to the Department of Public Instruction.
Maasai was troubled academically as well as financially, records show. Just 16% of 10th graders scored “proficient” in the WKCE math test last year and none scored “advanced.” Some 19% scored proficient or advanced in reading and 18% did so in science.
isn’t milwaukee the grandfather of charter schools?? what happened to it’s lineage
Great news. All outside appearances suggest that they deserved to close. Here’s an idea: Wouldn’t it be nice if similarly performing MPS schools were closed?