In a controversial move, a public alternative high school in New Hanover County, North Carolina, has been proposed as the site for a "newcomers school" for refugees.
The school is intended to cater to the children of refugees, asylum seekers, and illegal immigrants who have been entering the US in large numbers since President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021. The school, which will be publicly funded, is set to replace the Career Readiness Academy at Mosley High School.
Commissioner Dane Scalise voiced his opposition to the plan at a New Hanover County Commissioners meeting on Monday. He argued that the Board of Education should not shut down the existing high school to establish a program that would not be a "school in the traditional sense." Instead, he likened the proposed facility to a "migrant resettlement of assimilation facility." The term "refugee school" has also been used by others to describe the proposed institution. Scalise pointed out that Guilford County has already become a hub for "refugee resettlement" following the opening of their "newcomer school."
During a meeting on November 28, 2023, Dr. Patrice Faisan elaborated on the plan for the "newcomer school."
"There are different models. The best model, talking to those who have models and looking at the research, is the newcomer school," Faisan said. "Where you actually have a facility where you house and actually educate these students together, provide parental wrap-around support services. So it's just not about the students receiving support, you also will be helping the families in this center as well."
Faisan further explained to the New Hanover County School Board, who were hearing about the plan for the first time despite it having been in the works since 2021, that the center would also include a 'newcomer center' for parents. This would be a space dedicated to helping parents access necessary resources.
Faisan emphasized that her team was already coordinating with the necessary support services. "This is just not an academic endeavor. This is a total endeavor strongly with student support. They are hand in hand with us on this as they need to be."
The transformation of the school building is not the only concern for the community. The potential loss to the educational system is also a significant issue. Parents were informed of the decision to close the school through a letter from the Career Readiness Academy principal on December 1, 2023.
The Mosely community, comprising 63 students and 15 staff members, also voiced their concerns after the New Hanover County Schools announced the school's closure after the 2023-24 school year.
Faisan, who had previously discussed the plan in November, told the community on Tuesday that Mosely was not worth saving. She cited the low graduation rate, high cost-per-student, and underutilization of space as reasons for the closure. It was revealed during the meeting that Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust had been planning to close the school since 2021, a decision that had not been made public.
Students and members of the school community rallied to keep the school open. Sophomore Esmerelda Avalos told local news that the school was worth saving due to the individual attention the students at the alternative public school receive. "We get the support, the attention," she said. "They always help us. We're like a small family. Since I started to go to Mosley, I have seen that I have changed. My grades have been going up. I think it really helps me because Im not fluent in English and I think they have helped me there."
A junior, Alex Finley, expressed his affection for the school. "It is not a behavior school. It is a school for people who need different environments and thrive differently and just all around need a place to be accepted," he said. The decision to close the Career Readiness Academy at Mosley High School was made by New Hanover County Schools administrators without the knowledge or consent of the school board, according to Cape Fear Beacon.
The new school is expected to accommodate 200 or more refugee, illegal immigrant, and asylum-seeking children. The school board was informed of the decision on November 28, during a presentation that revealed how advanced the plan was. Parents and staff were taken aback by the plan.
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