Cooperation between local employers and public schools has increased dramatically in recent years, but the Health Sciences Charter School promises to take such arrangements to new levels when it opens in August.

That cooperation continues despite vocal opposition from Buffalo Public Schools and the city teachers union. They point out that the system’s Riverside Institute of Technology, located less than mile away, will introduce a similar health sciences program the following month in its renovated building.

The charter school, though, was founded with assistance from some of the area’s largest health care providers and insurers. It will focus on preparing high school students for careers in the local health care system, which is struggling to find qualified employees.

“This is a school-to-work program in health sciences,” said David A. Palmer, president of the school’s board of trustees and area director of the Communications Workers of America.

Yet Buffalo School Superintendent James A. Williams and Philip Rumore, president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation, have criticized charter school organizers for refusing to scrap plans for a new school and instead join forces with city schools on the Riverside program.

The teachers union recently picketed a session where officials of the charter school laid out their plans, and Rumore asked national CWA officials to withdraw their support from the school, which is located in the Town of Tonawanda. Rumore said he has received no reply, and Palmer said the CWA remains deeply committed to the new charter school.

“I respect Phil and his position,” Palmer said. “I just disagree.”

Organizers of the charter school say the need for health care workers more than justifies two separate programs, and that the competition will be healthy.

They envision many of their graduates taking jobs right out of high school as nurse’s aides, clerks or information technologists. Others, they figure, will continue their studies to become physical or respiratory therapists, registered nurses, pharmacists or physicians.

The school has two interlocking goals: to provide a badly needed stream of qualified employees for local health care operations and to prepare students for good, widely available jobs right in their hometown.

The Catholic Health System now tries to fill 400 to 500 jobs a year, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute hires 500 to 600 staff members annually.

“Some of these jobs go for want because you can’t find qualified people,” said Cynthia A. Schwartz, executive director of corporate projects and initiatives for Roswell Park and secretary of the school’s board. “We’re looking for kids who are turned on by science, by math and by computer technology.”

Course offerings at the school — located on the second floor of the Sheridan Parkside Community Center in the Town of Tonawanda — will include health care science, health care communications and medical psychology and ethics for health care professionals. Local employers will provide internships and mentors for students in their junior and senior years.

The school’s roster of partners includes Kaleida Health, the Catholic Health System, Roswell Park, Erie County Medical Center, Independent Health, the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Erie Community College, HealthNow New York and the CWA.

That array of sponsors illustrates that “the need [for qualified workers] is critical,” said Michael J. Moley, Catholic Health’s senior vice president for human relations.

But the new school is not without controversy.

Both Williams and Rumore say they separately — and unsuccessfully — urged Health Sciences Charter School officials to combine their efforts with the city school system and run a joint program out of Riverside, now undergoing reconstruction.

“We asked them to come to the table and work together,” said Amber Dixon, the Buffalo schools’ executive director of project initiatives. “They weren’t willing to do that. It’s a shame.”

Operating two very similar programs at nearby schools duplicates efforts at a time of fiscal limitations, Dixon said.

“Does New York State have the money to fund schools with identical missions?” she asked.

Rumore said the charter school will siphon funds and students from the city schools for instruction they could receive at Riverside.

“Here they are, right from the start, undermining our ability to educate our kids,” Rumore said. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”

Health Sciences Charter School officials said their plans were already well along when they met with Williams and Rumore, and they are willing to collaborate but not to combine the schools.

“The need out there among our providers is great enough to sustain more than two schools,” Palmer said. “This is one small piece of the puzzle. It’s not even close to [filling] the need.”

Schwartz said the two schools will generate “healthy competition,” and that the area needs more — not fewer — quality schools.

The Health Sciences Charter School, which will charge no tuition, will open with 120 students in ninth grade and expand one grade each year until it has 480 students in grades nine through 12. It will offer a longer school day and school year than traditional city schools, and require students to wear uniforms.

The school, which will start with 10 teachers, is now looking for a principal.

While state law gives admissions preference to students from the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District, organizers expect most of their students to come from Buffalo.

Recruiting efforts also will extend to Niagara Falls, Grand Island, Cheektowaga and Lackawanna, said Ted Kachris, the school’s director of financial and administrative services.

An informational meeting for prospective students and their families will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p. m. March 24 in the school, 169 Sheridan Parkside Drive, Town of Tonawanda. Applications are available at www.healthsciencescharterschool.org or by calling 402-1872.