"We have to pay tuition for students to gosomewhere else," she added. "I'm trying to beoptimistic, but the impact on our school system isunknown."

Ogletree expressed surprise that the schoolcommittee has not been better informed. He hopesto form a "friendly coalition" between Banneker'sfounders and community members, he said.

"I have no doubt that the school committee willsee that the charter school is in the schoolsystem's best interest. All of us put the childrenfirst," he said.

Reddick finds comfort in the public supportexpressed by the mayor and the school department."Although some members have spoken up in fear ofwhat the school will do to the city, I hope we'llbe able to work well together," she said. "In 1997I hope to see the school up and running."

Executive Director of the Harvard Project onSchooling and Children Katherine K. Merseth, Ed'81, was consulted by the grade school's founders.Although Merseth was not a member of the foundingcoalition, she represented the Project in thecharter schools program by offering consulting oncurricular issues.

"We're all very excited about the BannekerSchool as an institution to further education, andwill do everything we can to support theirefforts," she said.

The facility, named for a notedeighteenth-century Black mathematician,astronomer, and scientist who built the firstwooden clock, brings the total number of statecharter schools to 21. Other schools includeAcademy of the Pacific Rim Charter School inBoston, which will focus on Pacific Rim culturesand languages, and charter schools in Chelmsfordand Martha's Vineyard.

The system of charter schools was authorizedunder the state's 1993 Education Reform Act.Schools are approved according to the followingcriteria: program quality, admissions policies,budget, curricula development and community need.

"Each new charter school founded inMassachusetts improves the education of all ourkids," said Governor William F. Weld '66 in apress release. "Students will soon be matchingwits with one another in a whole new generation ofpublic schools.