GREENFIELD — A private Christian school plans to open this fall, pending approval from the School Committee.

Providence Christian Academy, which would operate out of the former Greenfield Alliance Church at 385 Chapman St., is a ministry of the Providence Moldovan Baptist Church on Federal Street, according to academy Chair Mike Placinta. Roughly 30 students are expected to enroll in kindergarten through fourth grade starting this fall.

“Providence Christian Academy really started with our congregation seeing a lot of children [being] homeschooled,” Placinta said. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for these children. … We believe that having in-person schooling is a better alternative than homeschooling. We don’t want them to miss out on opportunities for the future.”

School Committee Chair Amy Proietti said while it’s not something the committee is asked to do often, the committee’s approval is part of a standard Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) process for reviewing a private school planning to operate within the municipality. Proietti shared that legal counsel advised “very strongly” that the committee should approve the proposal.

“The qualification was that the attorney had never seen a rejection of a private school opening and that the committee needed to be very cognizant that we cannot reject a private school based on religious teaching,” Superintendent Christine DeBarge cautioned when the board discussed Providence Christian Academy last week. “There needed to be a good basis for rejection of the school.”

Because the School Committee requested more information on the school’s curriculum, however, members tabled their conversation on approving Providence Christian Academy’s opening until their August meeting.

“I’m really not interested in the religious discussions about it,” said Vice Chair Kate Martini, referring to concerns expressed about the religious beliefs incorporated in the math, science, literacy and history curricula. “I’m interested in ensuring student outcomes, and I don’t really … feel I have enough information to support it at this point.”

Concerns were raised early in the conversation about the school’s Bible-centered education, which follows the Abeka curriculum established by the founders of the Pensacola Christian Academy in Florida. In particular, School Committee member Elizabeth Deneeve brought up the curriculum’s teachings related to slavery, homosexuality, evolution and modern psychology.

“What I have learned is that PCA, Providence Christian Academy, is not a grassroots, local school,” Deneeve said. “It’s a franchise that teaches fundamentalist ideology throughout the world. They use the Abeka curriculum, which I believe is in direct opposition to the values at Greenfield Public Schools.”

Still, members were encouraged to focus on the curriculum rather than religious teachings. Martini raised concerns about the school’s reading curriculum.

“When I was reviewing the information provided … I felt that I couldn’t tell from the limited information that was provided whether or not the instruction that would be provided to students in this school equals in thoroughness and efficiency what would be provided by Greenfield Public Schools,” Martini said, referencing the Massachusetts General Law that outlines a school committee’s role in reviewing a proposed private school. “There wasn’t much, and from the limited amount that was provided, for example, in regards to reading instruction, it seemed it was mainly focused on one out of five of what are known to be the essential components of reading instruction.”

Specifically, she said, the reading curriculum focuses on phonics with a more limited emphasis on phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, background knowledge and comprehension instruction.

“I didn’t see any references to how the curriculum is aligned to the Massachusetts curriculum standards, the frameworks, which would help me understand whether or not it was adequate,” she added.

DeBarge noted the curriculum itself was approved as a curriculum for homeschool instruction prior to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Teaching Karin Patenaude assuming her current role with the district. She also told committee members that the state’s guidance around this process was last updated in 2007 and that it included no specific requirements for private school curricula.

Placinta noted that there were similar schools in Greenfield in the past, such as the Cornerstone Christian School at the same location.

“I can’t comment much on the curriculum, since I’m not an expert, either,” said Placinta, responding to School Committee members’ comments. “But Abeka is probably one of the top-used nationwide Christian private schools.”

DeBarge explained that if the school ultimately isn’t approved by the first day, students enrolled would be considered truant or tardy by the Greenfield School Department. The committee ultimately voted 4-2 in favor of tabling the discussion to allow time for more information gathering, with Proietti and member Susan Eckstrom voting “no.” Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, who also serves on the committee, was absent.

“I hear everyone’s point of view on this, including the folks who want their children to attend the school, and I want to remind our committee that these are our neighbors and their children, and like all of us, [they] are trying to do the best for their families,” said Proietti. “For me, that piece is front and center. I don’t think tabling this for another month is going to put us in any different position on how to move forward … but I will go with the will of the committee.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

]]>