MA Sen. Promises To Fund Old Sturbridge Village Trips After Worcester Boycott

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester County state senator is promising to fund trips to Old Sturbridge Village for Worcester students after the school committee voted last week to end district-sponsored trips to the Sturbridge museum.

The Worcester School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to stop trips to Old Sturbridge Village after the museum sponsored a charter school that will sap millions from Worcester schools. The museum's leader identified the new Worcester Cultural Academy charter school as a steady revenue stream for OSV.

In response, state Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, says he'll make sure any Worcester student who wants to go to OSV — which he described as "a beacon of culture, education and history" — will get their trip paid for. Fattman said the funding would either come from the state or a charity.

"Should Worcester children be denied the opportunity to experience OSV by their elected leaders, families across Worcester County, particularly those families of Worcester 3rd grade children, should know that OSV wants and welcomes you, and that I will ensure your complimentary admission to the village for you and your child, whether that be through the state budget process or the wonderful philanthropic efforts of the people in our area," a statement posted to Fattman's Facebook page said.

The Worcester Cultural Academy is a 360-student elementary school set to open in the fall. The charter school will be funded through tuition charges assessed against Worcester Public Schools, estimated at $7 million in the beginning years of the new charter school. OSV will in turn receive management fees for providing services for the school, like human resources and financial management.

OSV CEO Jim Donahue said those management fees would provide "reliable, contractual revenue to the museum, safeguarding us against fluctuations in uncontrollable factors that impact admission revenue such as weather and public health." Donahue also said the school district was using students as "political pawns" by shutting down OSV trips.