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Parents and community members urge board to back performing‑arts charter
Summary
Multiple community speakers praised the Academy of Performing Arts proposal, cited research on arts integration and urged the board to partner with organizers rather than treat the school as competition; speakers cited specific effect‑size numbers for academic gains.
Several parents and local arts volunteers told the board they support APA’s application and said arts integration can boost academic outcomes. Peter Wagner said the proposal appears to bring additional resources into the district and urged trustees to consider partnership rather than opposition. Jessica Miranda, a former volunteer instructor with the Gaffney Band of Gold, cited effect sizes for academic impacts, saying, “Language is approximately 0.6 above in standard deviation. Math, 0.3. Overall GPA, 0.5.”
Brenda Earls, another community speaker, urged the board to measure program quality and not be swayed by rumors or negative publicity. She emphasized the local talent and the emotional case for providing early access to instrumentation and dance: “You have no idea the talent of these young kids,” she said. Community speakers also described existing local partners (Kids Club, musical foundations and local broadcasters) who would support instruction and after‑school programs.
