DALLAS — By a one-vote margin, the Dallas City Council approved a zoning request Wednesday for a controversial charter school that plans to open in South Oak Cliff.
Technically, this was only a zoning case. On the table was whether to permit the construction of an Uplift Education charter school at Camp Wisdom Road and Interstate 35E.
But Joyce Foreman, who is a trustee on the board of the Dallas Independent School District, effectively turned this vote into a referendum on charter schools.
"I have asked and pleaded with this Council: We don't want another charter school," Foreman told members at Wednesday's public hearing.
The argument against charter schools is that they sap funds and high-performing kids from already-struggling public schools, further handicapping public education.
But with a growing collection of 15 campuses in Dallas-Fort Worth, Uplift Education has proven there is a market for their brand of education. With this vote, Uplift will be able to continue its work at a new location in South Oak Cliff.
The new campus will host classes for grades 6-12 and serve as an extension to the existing Uplift Pinnacle campus nearby. That facility serves 550 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
"We're excited to work with the community and show them that we can be good partners," said Yasmin Bhatia, CEO of Uplift Education. "Equally, we are appreciative that parents will continue to have choices available to them on which school is the best fit for their children and their family."
The crowd Wednesday was large and energized. Many — including Uplift school students — were in favor of new Uplift Academy as a Dallas ISD alternative.
Council Member Carolyn King Arnold offered the strongest response. She was focused on the zoning issue, saying the city's process forced the school on the neighborhood.
"It's tantamount to rape," Arnold said.
For Dallas ISD Trustee Foreman, it sounds like this losing vote is not the end.
"My position is, this is a national debate about charter schools versus public schools... charter schools who really have no accountability to the public," Foreman said.
According to a release from Uplift Education, the organization will not open any more schools in the southern sector of Dallas for at least three years.
