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File #: 2018-1012    Version: 1
Type: Proclamation Status: Adopted
File created: 10/23/2018 In control: City Council
On agenda: 10/23/2018 Final action: 10/23/2018
Enactment date: 10/23/2018 Enactment #: 702
Effective date: 10/23/2018    
Title: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018 to be Manchester Academic Charter School Day to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Manchester Academic Charter School in the City of Pittsburgh.
Sponsors: Darlene M. Harris, All Members
Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MRS. HARRIS
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WHEREAS, the foundation of Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS) began in Manchester 50 years ago under the establishment of Manchester Youth Development Center (MYDC) by Reverend James Robinson in 1968 in an atmosphere of social and racial tension to be a safe recreational facility for local youth in the aftermath of Dr. Martin Luther King's assignation.

WHEREAS, the parents of MYDC and residents the Manchester community desiring their children to read better than themselves, Rev. James Robinson's wife, Dr. Betty Robinson resigned from her full-time position as a school administrator to dedicate her expertise to develop an afterschool program to assist students with their homework and academic needs which then lead to the beginning of a small private school of Manchester Academic in 1994.

WHEREAS, with the passage of the Pennsylvania charter school law 1998, Manchester Academic Charter School was established by Dr. Betty Robinson, parents and community members to provide children a safe, nurturing learning environment with high academic rigor; and

WHEREAS, has in 2008, under the leadership of Vasilios Scoumis, MACS was honored with one of the country's coveted Blue Ribbon awards for school excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, the first charter school in the region to be so recognized. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is part of a larger U. S. Department of Education effort to identify and spread knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices. MACS was one of 13 schools in Pennsylvania to be honored that year; and,

WHEREAS, in response to a growing waiting list, MACS began an expansion process, adding a second kindergarten class in 2009, introducing a second class at every grade level each subsequent year; and,

WHEREAS, MACS has been fortunate to have sustained strong community support from a variety of tremendous individuals, organizations, businesses, foundations and government officials throughout the region who s...

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