Dreamland Academy Closure Upsets Parents
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: June 12, 2012
Parents of students at Dreamland Academy are speaking out after the State's Board of Education voted not to renew it's charter.
"This has been a detrimental blow to the southwest community and as a parent I'm appalled," said parent Imani Sublett.
Hours after the board's decision, she and other parents filled the parking lot of the closing school, concerned about their students' futures.
"Now they're excited to go to school here and excited about coming to Dreamland and it hurts my heart, the decision that was made today was an unfair decision," said parent Eric Grimes.
Many say their kids were kicked out of LRSD or they chose to remove them. Now their kids appear to be improving at Dreamland and their shocked it's being closed.
Student Maria Roman said, "My mom says she likes the school because they give us lots of opportunities."
"It's sad for us, Dreamland was here when we needed them, we moved from Louisiana here," said parent Lisa Lord.
Students also shared what they'd come to love about the school and what they'll miss most.
"We have fun, we have extra credit cause we stay here till 6 pm and that's how we get better at work said student Hezekiah White.
"I feel proud of this school, this school is my life because it shows me a lot of things, " said Oreana Roman.
Now they're faced with a tough choice, where to go next.
Parent and PTO President Shan Pace said, "Like everybody else, I don't know where my baby will go, he will probably be home-schooled. "
All of the students can be reassigned to schools within their district.
"This has been a detrimental blow to the southwest community and as a parent I'm appalled," said parent Imani Sublett.
Hours after the board's decision, she and other parents filled the parking lot of the closing school, concerned about their students' futures.
"Now they're excited to go to school here and excited about coming to Dreamland and it hurts my heart, the decision that was made today was an unfair decision," said parent Eric Grimes.
Many say their kids were kicked out of LRSD or they chose to remove them. Now their kids appear to be improving at Dreamland and their shocked it's being closed.
Student Maria Roman said, "My mom says she likes the school because they give us lots of opportunities."
"It's sad for us, Dreamland was here when we needed them, we moved from Louisiana here," said parent Lisa Lord.
Students also shared what they'd come to love about the school and what they'll miss most.
"We have fun, we have extra credit cause we stay here till 6 pm and that's how we get better at work said student Hezekiah White.
"I feel proud of this school, this school is my life because it shows me a lot of things, " said Oreana Roman.
Now they're faced with a tough choice, where to go next.
Parent and PTO President Shan Pace said, "Like everybody else, I don't know where my baby will go, he will probably be home-schooled. "
All of the students can be reassigned to schools within their district.
