On April 2nd, Rich Boardman, Merrimack native and Executive Director of Gate City Charter School for the Arts, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding how charter schools are a necessary entity for students who are passionate about the arts and students whose needs cannot be met at the public schools. Social complexities also draw students to charter schools. Gate City Charter School currently has 106 students total in grades K-8. 50% of students are Nashua residents while the remaining students are from multiple surrounding towns.
Charter schools are not in competition with public schools since they are funded mostly through grant writing and fundraising. Teachers have more flexibility with developing their curriculum at charter schools as it is not a necessity to be certified on the state level but being a professional in your field makes for a great teacher also. There is no tuition and no child is refused acceptance if they have gone through the application process.
Creativity, ingenuity, problem solving, perseverance, communication, collaboration and focus are skills Gate City Charter school focuses on. A typical day consists of Homeroom, Skills instruction; arts integration, common core, next generation science standards. Social/Emotional Learning, Specials; music, visual arts, PE. Schoolwide Community, Lunch and Outdoor Play.
Rich encourages anyone interested in learning more about becoming a board member to please reach out to him.