Comments on: Guest Column: Charter Schools 101

By: Andrew H

Andrew H — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:19:25 +0000

Like it or not, charter schools are merely privately-run schools with public money under a public balloon. That doesn’t mean people are paying extra out-of-pocket, but it does mean selection favors some students over others, and it does mean charter schools open up seats in public schools that are now suddenly up for closure, leading to more schools run privately with private decisions. Not all charter schools (but definitely some) are run by people not fully invested in a local community. Having the leader labeled as a CEO and making a grand production out of a student lottery only help to show why charter schools are hurting the district as a whole.

Also, Mr. Doe, I’m a student that’s currently towards the end of the progression through the Gifted/Academy program that’s now housing grades 1-8 at Washington, and I am perplexed by a charter school being “more geared toward our family’s life philosophy and direction.” I see only three possibilities: that the Academy simply produces a majority of snobbish, know-it-all students (which is simply false), that the District or RRStar encouraged making such properly-worded glossy-eyed comments, or the most likely answer being desiring an escape from a) the heavy work load of the Gifted program and b) the massive red tape of being in a district-run school. I’m sorry, but in regards to benefiting the whole community and not just the students of three charter schools, I see this as parallel to the same attitudes of conservative shelter parents that pull their kids out of RPS205 and into private schools to create their perfect scenario.

I’m not saying that I’m not glad that your student is doing better, but as a whole, the article above is the rightful expression of a concerned parent that is seeing specialized education for all non-standard students being compromised for privatization. And unfortunately, charter schools are a part of that problem.

By: John Doe

John Doe — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 23:08:45 +0000

This article is the kind of truth bending that keeps our district from moving ahead. Everyone gets territorial and no one is willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make our district the best possible district in the state. We’ve moved one of our kids from Washington to a charter school this year and are very happy with the move. That doesn’t mean that we were unhappy with Washington, but that the charter school was more geared toward our family’s life philosophy and direction. Our district benefits from having regular public schools, magnet schools and charter schools. Spewing misinformation like this does a disservice to all of the schools in our community.

By: worriedsick

worriedsick — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:46:44 +0000

Several of the students who left the public schools for charters already met AYP on last years ISAT test or they were already the highest in their classes.

By: john venovic

john venovic — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:13:43 +0000

Millie Zimmerman

I totally agree with Governor Walker’s attempts to rid Wisconsin of its Civil Service unions.

Unions, by definition, are opposed to management and to further the goals of their members and union officials’ pocketbooks.. In the case of the civil servant’s unions, “management” consists of the citizens. Therefore, these unions are in opposition to citizens except for those who themselves are members of unions.

I pray for all states to follow the example of Wisconsin, and further, to adopt open-shop legislation that frees workers from compulsory membership in unions.

My bias in this comes from my 26 years of commissioned service in the Navy. The military does not tolerate unions except for their civil service unions, and yet young men and women still join and sometimes die for their country as a result.

By: Dorien Peterson

Dorien Peterson — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:05:57 +0000

Great article. I was not aware of some of these numbers. As a recent retiree from one now-closing school and the grandmother of a Montessori student, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. One comment, though – ALL schools are beloved by their parents and students. Barbour is not unique in that respect. That is one point that Alice Saudargas kept making during the last meeting that really irked me. West View is not any more loved by the parents/students than any other school.

By: Concerned teacher

Concerned teacher — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:06:37 +0000

Our community needs to stand up and demand accountability from the District administration and the Board. How can we trust the word of a woman who has a history of lying and abusing public money. She wants to get the public angry at teachers and make teachers fearful for their jobs. All this stress is taking a toll on our kids. We need to regain control of our community. The first step should be to vote in a new Board, demand the termination of the Super and her minions, and have our schools controlled by people from THIS community. I’m glad the REA is investigating her. I would love to see the story that channel 23 had planned. I find it hard to believe that the story wasn’t run by their legal department before filming. So what is the problem?? Ms Sheffield threatened legal action?? Again covering up the truth.

By: Mimi_zipzip

Mimi_zipzip — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 18:06:59 +0000

Public education as a concept and a policy has profound history. We cannot afford to have a population that doesn’t go to school, can’t read and write, etc. As hard as it is to share, we must share, share, share.

By: SS

SS — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 02:15:42 +0000

Boy was this article one-sided. I know of several persons with kids in charter schools. They are working ABOVE their grade-level, which in the public schools, they would not. They have ZERO tolerance to behavioral issues. Ask most the children in dist 205 how many times the teacher has to stop teaching and get ‘control’ of the classroom! In the orientation before the school year begins, they give print outs on ALL the teachers, what colleges they attended and their experience. Yes, most of them are younger. HOWEVER, they are not ‘burned out’ or ‘unattentive’ to the kids’ needs. Some of them offer to help students on their own time. If the charter schools have came to Rockford to ‘roost’….maybe it’s because their is a need. What happened to ‘children’s education comes first?’

By: Henry Doll

Henry Doll — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:14:01 +0000

Thank you Tom. Please send this to RRStar. You got the story straight – this is driving so much of what is happening. The current administration has done a fine job of taking our “eye off the prize”, which is an A+ PUBLIC school district, through deception and distraction.

By: Kevin R.

Kevin R. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:37:22 +0000

Rockford wake up! Read and learn and educate yourself! Thank you RRT for information the RR communist S won’t share. Hit em where it will make a difference, withhold your dist. 205 property tax this year, make a stand. The majority with the 3-6 kids using the public schools and transportation are section 8 housing or sub, or renting, and not paying a dime to dist.205 in property tax!! But they get the 5-6k$$ back for the year after taxes, what a disgrace Il. That’s another thing the politicians should look at, if I have to give to the dist. then the ones getting alot of money back at the end of the year for claiming all their kids all over the place should pay also!!! The ones using the public school system should pay.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:01:33 +0000

What do these 4 people have in common?

Mr. John R. Anderson, Anderson Enterprises, LLC (Steering Committee Chairman)

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Board, Pastor, Pilgrim Baptist Church

Rev. K. Edward Copeland, Pastor, New Zion Baptist Church

Janyce Fadden, President, Rockford Area Economic Development Council

2 things:
They are all on the steering committee of the: Rockford charter School Initiative; They made up more than ½ of Sheffield’s original budget committee. Sheffield claims she is not for charter schools…really LaVonne, who are you crapping?

By: RPS PARENT

RPS PARENT — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:54:28 +0000

Thank you Tom!