Science charter school would be LI's first

A proposal is pending to create a science and technology charter school on the campus of SUNY Old Westbury that, if approved, would be the first of its kind on Long Island.

A partnership between the college and a local doctor's charity wants to open the Doshi STEM charter school in fall 2013.

A public forum is to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the college's Student Union.

"There is a definite need for more of our young people to have more science and math education," said Calvin O. Butts III, president of SUNY College at Old Westbury. "It is evident when you look at the economic plan for the future of Long Island."

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Butts is partnering with the AU Foundation Inc., a local charity founded by Hicksville doctor Leena Doshi, owner of Doshi Diagnostic Imaging Services, a chain of 38 free-standing radiology centers in New York.

The school would begin with 125 ninth-graders, growing to 450 high schoolers by its fifth operating year. Charter schools -- funded by local school districts -- enroll students through a lottery, and are required to take a percentage of "at-risk" students. Students from across Long Island would be eligible.

The planned Doshi charter school would be located in an existing building on the college campus, in the Jericho Union Free School District. The AU Foundation would pay for renovations to the building.

Jericho Superintendent Henry L. Grishman said he applauds the effort to create more STEM education, but opposes charter schools, saying they "drain monies from public schools."

Lorraine Deller, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, said: "We are puzzled as to why there would be a move to set up a charter school in STEM education when Long Island schools already excel in that particular area," Deller said.