Statement from Aaron Lippman, CEO, Carmen Schools of Science and Technology

Tonight’s decision clearly shows that Directors Zombor, Siemsen, O’Halloran, Herndon and Fons do not believe in all children, even though it is their legal responsibility as elected school board members to serve the will of the local citizenry, reflecting the ethics of the education profession. It shows us that they have personal vendettas against Carmen, and have no problem putting their politics ahead of the needs of our kids.

To be clear, Carmen Northwest was originally recommended for a three-year charter authorization renewal. This recommendation was the result of an established and thorough process, supported by Missy Zombor. Every other school up for approval this year, including those with scores similar to ours, had their recommended renewals approved last week with no issues. Then the MPS Board selectively, intentionally, and illegally discarded its process for Carmen Northwest, throwing away any sense of caring or concern for our kids and community along with it.
We also are left to wonder why the MPS board does not value the more than $2 million in revenue they receive through their current agreements with Carmen Northwest, especially given the district’s staggering financial issues.

This chaotic, inconsistent process places an additional and completely unnecessary burden on our students, families and teachers who are now left to wonder about the future of their school after the board voted to extend the authorization agreement for only one year and made it clear that staying in the current facility beyond that is not an option.

More than a thousand community members signed the petition supporting Carmen Northwest’s renewal, and hundreds of students, staff, and neighbors filled tonight’s Board meeting to stand up for their school. Their presence reflects that Carmen Northwest truly is more than a place to learn; it is a caring, stabilizing refuge and one of the strongest educational choices for families in the Silver Spring community. We know there is more work ahead, yet we are proud of our progress and remain focused on delivering the high-quality learning and stability our students deserve.
Though tonight’s decision creates uncertainty, our families, staff, and students should know this: Carmen Northwest remains open and our work continues. Students will be in school tomorrow with the same routines and supports they rely on every day. At the same time, we are actively pursuing every path to secure a stable, long-term future for our school.

Despite the challenges created tonight, our community is not discouraged. Our commitment to our students, our belief in their potential, and our determination to keep Carmen Northwest strong remain unwavering.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.