By Adrienne Boudreau:
Carl Paladino has found new tenant for the former home of Holy Angels Academy on Hertel Avenue.
The Charter School of Applied Technologies (CSAT), New York State’s largest charter school, has been approved by the state to increase its enrollment by 690 students, or 41 percent, over the next 6 years with the move to the location.
Students from Grades 6-8 will be housed on the Shoshone Street site starting this August. The new Middle School site offers 75,000 square feet containing 30 classrooms, a gymnasium, an auditorium and a new library.
“This is a new chapter for the CSAT family and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the State’s decision. Our main goal from the beginning was to reduce the 1,000-student wait list and to provide our children the tools needed to be successful,” said Superintendent J. Efrain Martinez.
Immediately as of the 2014-2015 school year enrollment opportunities will increase in Kindergarden and Grades 6, 7, 8 and 9. 264 new student spots will open up in its roster. They will also be hiring ten additional teachers. In the years after all grade levels will be increased.
“We are thrilled to partner with CSAT at this property. We know CSAT’s incredible standard of excellence will guarantee that the future of this iconic facility will continue its tradition of producing exceptional students for our community,” says James Dentinger, president of McGuire Development, the development team that has been retained to put the plan into action.
“Our administration and our teachers couldn’t be more excited about our move into the former Holy Angels Academy. The building is impeccable, it suits the needs of our students and our programs and allows for future growth. McGuire Development has been an instrumental partner in the success of this enterprise and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them in the future,” says J. Efrain Martinez, superintendent of CSAT. “We eagerly anticipate bringing the school back to the surrounding North Buffalo community after a year of absence and look forward to developing a fruitful relationship with the neighborhood that benefits everyone.”
Since its opening in 2001 CSAT has been considered a school in good standing and it is only one of eight charter schools in New York State to offer a complete K-12 education.
80 percent of its population comes from the City of Buffalo and 83 percent of its population falls under or at the poverty line.
The results of 2013’s standardized tests show that CSAT outscored Buffalo Public Schools in ten of twelve assessment areas. As a charter school it is free for all to attend and there are no entrance exams.
Lead image: Wikipedia