By Amanda McGregor
SALEM — Just two weeks before state officials decide whether to approve a new charter high school in Salem, 17 students have expressed an interest in attending it.
No parents turned up at the first information sessions for the school, held yesterday at the Salem and Peabody libraries, but the school's lead founder said he is encouraged by the handful of responses he has received by mail, e-mail and telephone.
"The fact that I've gotten phone calls makes me feel great," Robert Guinto said while sitting by himself in a small conference room in the Salem Public Library yesterday morning, awaiting parents. "The fact that I've gotten responses in the mail makes me feel great."
Road to Success Charter High School proposes to enroll as many as 400 at-risk teens from Salem, Peabody and Lynn.
So far, the school has received responses from six Salem students, three Peabody students and four Lynn students — a total of 13 from the targeted communities. In addition, two students from Danvers and one each from Marblehead and Swampscott have expressed interest, Guinto said.
Students from Salem, Peabody and Lynn receive priority enrollment; if there are remaining slots, students from other communities can apply.
Guinto, 51, a businessman from West Roxbury who has never worked in education, had initially planned to be the school's board president, an unpaid position. Instead, he said yesterday that he will serve as the school's executive director, which pays $70,000 a year. He said he swapped roles with another founding member.
"The bottom line is, who's going to be responsible for delivering the outcome?" Guinto said.
In anticipation of the school's approval, Guinto has relinquished some of his duties as president of the company he owns, Non Profit Capital Management in Woburn. Although he is still president and managing partner, he said he is now working there as more of a consultant and is taking only a small monthly stipend.
The state Board of Education is slated to vote Feb. 23 on Road to Success and five other proposed charter schools. Charter schools are independent public schools that operate under five-year charters granted by the state board. They are funded by diverting state aid from the regular public schools, according to a formula based on the number of students who attend.
If the Road to Success charter is granted, Guinto said he would assure it is renewed after five years, and then possibly expand the school or open another one.
If the state denies the charter in two weeks, Guinto said the founding members will reapply.
"Even if we're not approved this year," he said, "we're coming back harder next year."
Salem already has a charter school, Salem Academy Charter School, which serves roughly 300 students in grades six through 12. If approved, Road to Success would open this fall.
What is Road to Success?
Road to Success wants to serve students from Salem, Peabody and Lynn in the most vulnerable populations: English language learners, those involved with the Department of Children and Families, homeless students, and pregnant or parenting teens.
The school would be located in Salem at either the Shetland Park office park on Congress Street, or in the former St. Joseph School on Federal Street. Guinto has been in talks with both facilities.
The school would not have grade levels, but "proficiency levels" instead, Guinto said. Other tenets of the school include "learning achievement plans" for every student, a three-week immersion program for new students, tutoring and a longer school day.
"There is a huge need in Massachusetts and in the nation for education," said Guinto, who holds a bachelor's degree in social and rehabilitation services and a master's degree in public administration.
Road to Success could accept any student who has passed the eighth grade and is under the age of 18.
To recruit students, Guinto said founding members recently disseminated information in the St. Joseph School neighborhood and will do the same in the area of Congress and Lafayette streets this week or after school vacation.
The school would have 24 full-time-equivalent staff the first year. There would be an executive director (Guinto) and a principal, who would each earn $70,000. Teachers would earn $45,000 on average.
More information
For more information or to apply online, visit roadtosuccesscharterschool.org. The following information sessions are scheduled:
Thursday, Feb. 11: Salem Public Library, 10 to 11:30 a.m.; Peabody Institute Library, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 12: Salem Public Library, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 22: Lynn Housing Authority, 10 Church St., 10 a.m. to noon
