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Charter school measure creates problems


September 5, 2012 · Updated 4:12 PM 

This Charter School Initiative 1240 appears to be written by liberal politicians with wealthy supporters who wish to take my hard earned tax money earmarked for public education and use it any which way they please with no control by local voters.

Do not buy the claim that "the state money will follow the students at no consequence to the local schools." Excuse me, but when students leave one school that fixed cost school facility (maintenance, heating, playgrounds, janitorial services, etc.) will lose students, creating empty classrooms and cost more per student to operate if it is not shut down.

A Charter School Commission by law would be appointed by the governor and loaded with those parents who supported I-1240. Even the Washington State PTA does not support I-1240 as written because it takes money away from public school students and places a hardship on local school districts.

Don't be fooled by the slick supporters with the fantasy that no public schools would be affected. I am for publicly controlled alternative schools like Federal Way Public Academy, where curriculum and teachers are regulated by my elected school board members. That is the kind of innovation we need in Washington schools.

– Marie-Anne Harkness

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