NEWS
Op-Ed: School Boards Down on Charter Schools
April 11, 2012
School boards and their individual members have often been the most vocal opponents of school choice. On several occasions The Voice has pointed out that schools would be better served by trustees who bettered the educational offerings of districts, rather than using their positions to oppose reform. You can read about that here and here.
In addition to generally complaining about families having school choice options, many school boards show particular animosity toward charter schools. Click here to read about two notoriously low-performing school districts bullying a new charter school on the grounds that the new option could "adversely affect children in the district." Yes, the hypocrisy is overwhelming.
A short opinion-editorial by Bert Walker on the Bluffton Today website deals with the topic of why many school boards are eager to push around neighboring charter schools. It's short, and worth the read.
"Why Do Boards of Education Fear Charter Schools?"
“The public school system is already so beleaguered by bureaucracy; so cowed by the demands of due process; so overwhelmed with faddish curricula that its educational purpose is almost an afterthought.” — CA Justice Janice Rogers Brown
Justice Brown could not be more on point. I recently attended an enlightening tour of the Riverview Charter School with a small group of people for school choice. The group was very surprised to learn how the staff manages to run a school so conducive to learning, while at the same time overcoming obvious road blocks put up by the board of education. The faculty’s enthusiasm for the students and the unique learning environment at the school was very apparent. The fear of charter schools by our school board is also very apparent. Charter schools embarrass local public schools because they often do a better job educating children, for less money.
Charter schools are also free from much of the regulations and controls that regular public schools have to put up with. Charter schools therefore threaten the public-school monopoly because they introduce a little competition into the system. The tour provided everyone with a refreshing look at a public charter school of high caliber succeeding in a county struggling with low academic achievement. When the public demands more charter schools, authorities will lose much of their monopoly power over our children’s education and educational outcomes will improve. For better schools, think school choice and charter schools.
Bert Walker, Bluffton
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Comments
School Choice & Charter Schools
Thank you for posting my article on your website. The public school educational system in South Carolina has been failing for decades. It's time to try something new. A School Choice bill (H 4894) has passed the house and is currently being held by the Senate Finance Committee with the intent of never being allowed a vote on the Senate floor. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
It's Time to DEMAND THE VOTE on School Choice!!
The People want School Choice (H 4894) brought to the floor of the Senate for a vote. School Choice has been debated for more than two years -- that's long enough....CALL THE VOTE!!
You're elected Senators have an obligation to the People to move School Choice (H 4894) onto the Senate floor for a vote. Whatever the outcome of the vote, the People are entitled to have the transparency of a Roll Call Vote. Locking up a bill in committee is political trickery and not right. South Carolina's children deserve better! It’s time to bring South Carolina’s education system out of the dark ages and give it back to the parents where it belongs! Please e-mail or call the below Senators and tell them you want H 4894 moved to the Senate floor for a full roll call vote.
Many Thanks, Bert
(R*) Hugh H. Leatherman, chairman- Dist 31 - Florence & Darlington Cos
(H) 1817 Pineland Ave, Florence, SC 19501 -- 843-662-0388 or 843-667-1152
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29902 Room 111 -- 803-212-6640
e-mail: SFinComm@scsenate.gov
(R) Harvey S. Peeler Jr. - Dist 14 - Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union & York Cos
(H) PO Box 742, Gaffney, SC 29342 -- 864-489-9994 or 864-489-3766
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202 Room 213 -- 803-212-6430
e-mail: SMediComm@scsenate.gov
(R) W. Greg Ryberg - Dist 24: Aiken Co.
(H) PO Box 1077, Aiken, SC 29802 -- 803-641-4125 or 803-648-9357
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29902, Room 313 -- 803-212-6320
e-mail: SLCIComm@scsenate.gov
(R) Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms - Dist 37: Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton & Dorcester Cos.
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29902 - Room 203 -- 803-212-6400
e-mail: STransComm@scsenate.gov
(R) Michael L. Fair -Dist 6: Greenville Co.
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 299202, Room 211 -- 803-212-6420
e-mail: MikeFair@scsenate.gov
(R) Ronnie W. Cromer -Dist 18: Lexington, Newberry & Saluda Cos.
(H) PO Box 378, Prosperity, SC 29127 -- 803-364-3950
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 305 -- 803-212-6330
e-mail: RonnieCromer@scsenate.gov
(R) David L. Thomas - Dist 8: Greenville Co.
(H) 23 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29609 -- 864-271-6371
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 410 -- 803-212-6240
e-mail: SBIComm@scsenate.gov
(R) John E. Coursen - Dist 20: Lexington & Richland Cos.
(H) 803-256-7853
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 412 -- 803-212-6250
e-mail: SEduComm@scsenate.gov
(R*) William H. O'Dell - Dist 4: Abbeville, Anderson & Greenwood Cos.
(H) PO Box 540, Ware Shoals, SC 29692 -- 864-861-2222 or 864-943-0905
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 610 - 803-212-6040 or 803-252-0845 (h)
e-mail: WilliamODell@scsenate.gov
(R*) Robert W. Hayes, Jr. - Dist 15: York Co.
(H) 1486 Cureton Dr, Rock Hill, SC 29732 -- 803-324-2800 or 803-328-8532
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 205 -- 803-212-6410
e-mail: SEthicsComm@scsenate.gov
(R*) Thomas C. Alexander - Dist 1: Oconee & Pickens Cos.
(H) 150 Clevelnd Dr, Walhalla, SC 29691 -- 864-638-2988 or 864-638-2153
(C) PO Box 142, Colimbia, SC 29202, Room 402 -- 803-212-6220 or 803-252-0845 (h)
e-mail: SGenComm@scsenate.gov
(R) Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III - Dist 9: Greenville & Laurens Cos.
(H) PO Box 272, Laurens, SC 29360 -- 864-984-4129 or 864-682-8914
(C) PO Boc 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 404 -- 803-212-6230
e-mail: SAgriComm@scsenate.gov
(R) Kevin L. Bryant - Dist 3: Anderson Co.
(H) 104-A North Ave, Anderson, SC 29625 -- 864-202-8394
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 606 -- 803-212-6024
e-mail: KevinBryant@scsenate.gov
(D) Nikki G. Setzler - Dist 26: Aiken, Lexington & Saluda Cos.
(H) 1309 Canary Dr, West Columbia, SC 29169, -- 803-796-1285 or 803-796-7573
(C) PO Boc 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 510 -- 803-212-6140
e-mail: NikkiSetzler@scsenate.gov
(D) J. Yancey McGill- Dist 32: Florence, Georgetown, Horry & Williamsburg Cos.
(H) 601 Longstreet St, Kingstree, SC 29556 -- 843-355-7217
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 508 -- 803-212-6132 or 803-779-7790(h)\
e-mail: YanceyMcGill@scsenate.gov
(D) John W. Matthews Jr. - Dist 39: Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton & Orangeburg Cos.
(H) 803-829-2383
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 613 -- 803-212-6056
e-mail: JohnMatthews@scsenate.gov
(D) Glenn G. Reese - Dist 11: Spartanburg Co.
(H) 507 Fagan Dr, Lake Bowen, Inman, SC 29349 -- 864-585-1956 0r 864-592-2984
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 502 -- 803-212-6108
e-mail: GlennReese@scsenate.gov
(D) Dick Elliott - Dist 28: Dillon, Horry, Marion & Marlboro Cos.
(H) PO Box 3626, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 -- 843-249-1449
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia 29202, Room 601 -- 803-212-6116 or 803-771-8711(h)
e-mail: DickElliott@scsenate.gov
(D) Ralph Anderson - Dist 7: Greenville Co.
(H) 315 Elder St, Greenville, SC 29607 -- 864-235-0611
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 504 -- 803-212-6032
e-mail: RalphAnderson@scsenate.gov(
(D) John C. Land III - Dist 36: Calhoun, Clarendon, Florence & Sumter Cos.
(H) PO Box 138, Manning, SC 29102 -- 803-435-8894 or 803-435-2314
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 513 -- 803-212-6180
e-mail: JohnLand@scsenate.gov
(D) Phil P. Leventis - Dist 35: Lee & Sumter Cos.
(H) 803-968-6185 or 803-469-2047
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 608 -- 803-212-6000
e-mail: PhilLeventis@scsenate.gov
(D) Darrell Jackson - Dist 21: Richland Co.
(H) 608 Motley Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061 -- 803-771-0325 or 803-776-6954
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 20202, Room 612 -- 803-212-6048
e-mail: DarrellJackson@scsenate.gov
(D) Clementa C. Pinckney - Dist 45: Beaufort, Jasper, Charleston, Colleton & Hampton Cos.
(H) PO Box 507, Ridgeland, SC 29936 -- 843-726-6019
(C) PO Box 142, Columbia, SC 29202, Room 512 -- 803-212-6148
e-mail: ClementaPinckney@scsenate.gov
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