Proponents of the recently approved Propel Charter School in Braddock Hills say it will give parents a much needed choice regarding their children's education.

But opponents say the approval disregards positive growth in the Woodland Hills School District.

The Pennsylvania Charter School Appeal Board voted, 4-1, Oct. 27 to approve Propel's application to open the school. The decision overturned two votes by the Woodland Hills School Board to reject the charter application.

The school is scheduled to open next school year in the former Builders Square store in the Braddock Hills Shopping Center.

Propel Executive Director Jeremy Resnick said the school would initially serve students in kindergarten through grade four and grades nine and 10, but would eventually grow to serve K-12.

Mr. Resnick estimates the school will have 350 students next school year and could increase to 600 once the school goes K-12.

Propel has five schools in the state and currently operates a charter in Turtle Creek, another Woodland Hills community. The district said it has a waiting list of 1,500 students.

"We hear from families on the waiting list and people who want to go to Propel that they want something different than what's currently available," Mr. Resnick said. "Seeing kids being excited to be there, working hard, seeing teachers caring, seeing the environment kids learn in, that's what they respond to."

But Woodland Hills Superintendent Walter Calinger said the state board made a "wrong decision" and said Propel wouldn't offer anything better than what is offered in the district.

"I do not think under state statute that Propel met the requirement to be able to do things which are new and different and are innovative in comparing and contrasting to Woodland Hills," he said.

Dr. Calinger said if Propel implements all of the programs it has planned and draws its students from only Woodland Hills, the district could be responsible for more than $3 million. But he said this scenario was unlikely because improvements made in test scores, student discipline and overall safety give parents reason to stick with the district.

"If anybody puts us to the test of safety, quality, giving students permission to dream, nobody holds a candle to what Woodland Hills is doing now," he said.

Renovation of the Builders Square building is expected to be completed by July, and classes are set to begin at Propel Braddock Hills by August.

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