WORCESTER, Mass. - Dozens of people turned out Friday for a public hearing on a proposed new charter school in Worcester.

The Worcester Cultural Academy would be located on Plantation Street and would be overseen by Old Sturbridge Village, which already operates another charter school in Worcester County. Jim Donahue, a member of the school's founding group, said the school would likely only cut one percent of the district's budget and believes it's well worth the money.

However, some are concerned the new charter school would strip funding away from the Worcester Public Schools.

"We're in opposition to this charter school," said Melissa Verdier, president of the Educational Association of Worcester. "Everything this charter school has to offer is already offered in Worcester Public Schools and it's just going to take away from the things that we could provide for our students if it comes in."

"When I think about Worcester and I think about wanting to work with students who are most at risk for their learning, and the rich cultural fabric of the city, with the Worcester Art Museum, the Ecotarium, the Hanover Theatre and others, I just think that combination can be really impactful for students in Worcester and we want to create that opportunity for them," Donahue said.

The decision on whether or not to move forward with the school will ultimately fall to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.