Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 24, 2021 COMPLAINT | FROM PAGE 1 demic freedom. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted Mystic Valley’s charter more than twenty years ago, and the School has successfully followed its charter ever since. However, DESE is now clearly working to try and undermine Mystic Valley’s charter and approach to education. DESE’s biased actions are an existential threat to our continued operations, jeopardizing the very core of Massachusetts’s legal obligation to protect charter schools and their autonomy. That is why we have gone to court. “We are proud of our school, its mission, its values, its diverse community and the achievements of our thousands of students and alumni. We will continue to defend our community against baseless attacks. If we do not, thousands of students of all races, ethnicities, incomes, and backgrounds will lose the opportunity to attend a nationally recognized school with a remarkable record of student achievement. We cannot let that happen. “It is clear that the DESE officials who conducted the site visit did so with a pre-existing bias against our school and its charter. In internal emails exchanged six months before any site visit, DESE personnel repeatedly stated, without evidence, that Mystic Valley is in need of reform. They used this sham site visit, conducted virtually and without ever setting foot on Mystic Valley’s campus, to set up an agenda-driven takedown of one of the best schools in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “This comes as surprise, as DESE has reauthorized Mystic Valley’s charter and educational mission without fanfare every five years since the school’s founding in 1998. “We took advantage of the statutory revision period and submitted our changes and criticisms of the integrity of the draft report but have received no assurances that DESE will rescind it. It is unfortunate that it has come to legal action, but with no recognition of the gravity of this matter from DESE and no intervention from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, this course of action was unavoidable. DESE must drop its agenda-driven attacks on our school by immediately retracting its biased and uninformed site visit report, grant Mystic Valley a waiver from new criteria it is using to assess the school, and begin a new evaluation process with an unbiased review team. “Mystic Valley remains faithful to its charter, its academic program is resoundingly successful, and it is organizationally viable. Provided DESE reviewers examine Mystic Valley without any preconceived biases, the school fully satisfies the statutory Charter School requirements, and it is confident that it will be renewed once again in 2023, as it has been during every renewal cycle since its inception, including its most recent renewal in 2018.” To read the full complaint, please visit MVRCS.com/ADVOCATE Rep. Ultrino announces new installment of monthly show, Your Voice on the Hill S tate Representative Steven Ultrino announced this week that the September edition of his month show, Your Voice on the Hill, will be airing on Facebook Live on Tuesday, September 28 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Each month, Representative Ultrino invites guest speakers to join him to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing Malden. In this episode, Representative Ultrino will be joined by special guest Alex Pratt, who is the Director of Community Development in Malden’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, to discuss housing and community development challenges and opportunities in the era of COVID-19. Formerly known as the Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA), the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development works in partnership with government leaders and community groups to administer federal and state funds for housing and community development projects. This episode will focus largely on issues related to affordable housing, housing assistance and programs, as well as the ongoing and future urban development projects in the Malden area. “I think this discussion will provide an insightful perspective on community development and housing the issues currently facing by many in our community,” said Ultrino. “The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development plays a crucial role managing community development and housing projects in Malden that make a real difference in the lives on Malden residents each day. I’m excited to speak with Alex about how we can continue to make Malden into a great place to work, live and explore for all Maldonians, even through these difficult times.” The episode will close with roughly 15 minutes for audience questions for Representative Ultrino and Pratt about resources available through the City of Malden and local partners. Questions can be submitted via email to Matthew.Walsh@MaHouse. Gov in advance of the show or in the comment section on Facebook. To tune in, visit facebook. com/ultrinoforrep/live. If you have any questions about Your Voice on the Hill, please contact Representative Ultrino at (617) 722-2460 or Steven.Ultrino@MaHouse.Gov. It is Said in Malden... T hat the Annual Malden Public Safety Day is expected to draw a large crowd Sunday at Linden Park from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. **** That Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica, where Linden Park is located and Councillor at large Craig Spadafora were two original city sponsors of the event along with Ward 1 City Councillor Peg Crowe and Councillor at large Stephen Winslow. **** That Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan hosted a citywide Zoom meeting on public safety last night, particularly centered on traffic safety, including the roadways in her ward which is primarily in the West End. **** That Ward Seven Councillor Neal Anderson has high praise Tuesday for all those who participated in the Wounded Warriors motorcycle run which ended up in Malden at Anthony's on Canal Street for some food and good times. **** That next Friday's (October1) Malden High varsity football game is now a home game at Macdonald Stadium versus Somerville, at 6:00 p.m., a change from the original site at Somerville's Dilboy Stadium. **** That Fire Prevention Week is observed every October in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire that began on October 8, 1871 and killed more than 250 people, along with destroying more than 17,400 structures across 2,000 acres. In 1911, 40 years after the fire, the Fire Marshals Association determined that the anniversary of this fire should be observed annually to generate awareness about fire prevention. **** That the Malden Police Department last week honored slain police officer Edward Callahan on the 58th anniversary of his death. Callahan and his partner were shot on Sept. 14, 1963 while responding to a robbery at a market on the corner of Pleasant and Pearl Streets. Callahan succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 16; his partner was seriously wounded.
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