By Rachel Weaver

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 10:32 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, January 17, 2013

The state-appointed financial recovery officer for the embattled Duquesne City School District said Wednesday that opening a charter school in the community has “a lot of appeal.”

“People have said they really need a school in town,” Paul Long said. “They want a centerpiece of the community and to be proud of the education. This is the most helpful way of doing that.” Long said he is exploring “how to make that work financially.”

Members of the Duquesne community heard options a financial recovery advisory committee is considering for the future of the district, designated by the state as financially distressed since 2000, during a public forum at the Christ the Light of the World Church.

In addition to the charter school, other possibilities include continuing to operate a K-6 school at the Duquesne Education Center and moving all students to nearby districts.

Residents also learned the committee is not considering a primary school for grades K-3 or merging Duquesne with another district. The forum was the third of four scheduled before the committee must submit a financial recovery plan to the elected school board on Jan. 31.

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