How will Mastery use $1M from Oprah?

The money will be set aside for now. The charter school operator says it hopes to use them on new schools.

A Philadelphia charter school operator say it will use a one-million-dollar grant from Oprah Winfrey to help turn-around more of the city’s struggling public schools.

Mastery Charter Schools CEO Scott Gordon is thrilled about the $1 million grant, but says he’s setting the money aside for now.

He hopes to put the money toward turning around more low-performing District schools in the coming year.

Gordon will have to wait until the winter to see if Mastery is selected to run any newly-designated Renaissance schools.

But Gordon knows how the money will be spent.

“If we were selected it goes for us to improve the building – repaint the building, replace the windows, replace light fixtures – make the building more bright and positive for students. It goes to books and new furniture and new computers.”

Mastery won bids last year to begin operating three elementary schools this fall.