Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 Mystic Valley files Complaint against Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Special to Th e Advocate Y esterday, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (Mystic Valley) fi led a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court against the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in response to a draft report issued by DESE which will impact Mystic Valley’s application for reauthorization in 2023. Summary of the Complaint M ystic Valley fi led a complaint on September 20, 2021, in Suffolk Superior Court against DESE seeking to enjoin the Department from evaluating the school based upon what the school contends are newly created, unlawful, vague and targeted “cultural proficiency” criteria that would put the school in breach of its Charter and potentially cause it to be shut down. Mystic Valley is a widely respected, successful charter school that has been regularly rechartered over the last two decades by the state without issue. Mystic Valley employs a dress code and bases its curriculum on a commonality and “melting pot” approach to education that is hyper-focused on excellence in academic achievement. Mystic Valley alleges in its Complaint that it has unearthed internal DESE emails showing that DESE is directly targeting Mystic Valley and its Charter, including by appointing at least one member of a review panel who openly described the member’s bias and intention to go after Mystic Valley before the review even began. At very same time, internal DESE email conceded that DESE had no formal complaints pending against Mystic Valley from anyone. Mystic Valley strenuously objects to the draft report and issues the following statement from its Board of Trustees “This is a case about academic 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 offi cials 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 COMPLAINT | SEE Page 6 Revere CARES Coalition to address proposed indoor smoking bar Special to Th e Advocate O n October 5 at 6:30 p.m., the Revere Board of Health will hold a hearing to discuss whether to allow an indoor smoking bar. Smoking bars can include hookahs, cigars and vapes. While Massachusetts passed a fl avor restriction in November 2019, fl avored tobacco is allowed in smoking bars. We have learned from the vaping crisis that fl avors attract young people, leading to unintended addiction and negative health consequences. Tobacco use causes chronic diseases and shortens life. As a city and state, we have come a long way in reducing tobacco use in young people. As a community, we should strive to create an environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice. The health of our citizens should come before business interests and profi ts. Allowing a smoking bar creates an environment that promotes the use of tobacco and sends the wrong message to our kids – enticing and addicting young adults. Right now, we are living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Can we allow one more business to operate that negatively aff ects people’s health? Can hookah instruments, which are meant to be shared, be properly sanitized to prevent the spread of disease? These are questions we all need to consider. We invite you to attend the Revere Board of Health meeting to share your concerns, or you can submit your comments by calling 781-485-8486 or emailing Paula Sepulveda at psepulveda@ revere.org. About the MGH Revere CARES Coalition The mission of the Revere CARES coalition is to strengthen the health of Revere by addressing priorities established by community members. We utilize an environmental approach; advocate for evidence-based, culturally competent strategies, programs and services; increase connectedness among individuals and organizations; and support and empower local youths. The Revere CARES Coalition is a program of Mass General’s Center for Community Health Improvement.
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