Taxpayers foot the bill for charter school organizations, but when it comes to Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act, leadership conveniently decides what is available for public disclosure including the group that was just canned by the Board of Education from managing Dunbar School. More on this from Jon Lender, Hartford Courant:
For example, if a superintendent of schools resigned after it was revealed that he faked his doctorate, his office would be required under law to disclose his salary and other information such as whether he would receive a pension, and in what amount.
But when The Courant sought that same information from FUSE about Sharpe, for example, the organization refused to answer, saying it is not covered by the FOI Act because it is a private, non-profit group. State law says that charter schools are, in effect, public agencies and must provide information upon request under the FOI Act.
State law isn’t as specific with regard to charter school management groups such as FUSE, but the co-chairman of the legislature’s education committee, Andrew Fleischmann, said court decisions make it clear that FUSE should be providing information to the public under current laws. Just to make sure that is clear, his co-chair on the committee says the legislature should close all loopholes next year because of what FUSE has been doing.
Full story here.
A topic near and dear to my heart. Time and time again, charter school proponents claim their schools are “public” schools. There isn’t a single board of education or true public school in Connecticut that would not be required to turn over the records requested by the Hartford Courant. Charter schools are “public” until you want to review their records. You can’t have it both ways ConnCAN, Northeast Charter $chools, Ex$ELL Bridgeport, FU$E, Jumoke Charter School etc. Eva Moskawitz, the largest charter school operator in NY NY, went to court to block an inquiry into her schools, which are funded with millions of taxpayer dollars. This is typical of charter schools not only in CT, but across the United States.
If the local BOE were doing its job, we would not need charter schools.
How does your comment relate to charter schools complying with the Freedom of Information Act?
Maria,
Andy’s comment may not relate, partly or entirely, depending on your viewpoint, but it is Andy’s opinion you loudly proclaim is each person’s right. Isn’t that correct?
Look at a number of OIB columns. The comments and territory into which people wander may be far away from the presenting article. Is that a problem?
By the way, when were you appointed the arbiter of postings to assure all such postings address the article or the most recent entry? Take a breath every once in awhile. Take a break from OIB. It is not reality itself, merely what perhaps 2% of its readers who choose to write are thinking and saying. Your ‘bickering’ with others on this site, and the sense you are always ‘right’ betray not an ounce of potential humility for the day or moment when you happen to make an error. Is that really how you consider yourself? Time will tell.
Mr. Lee, I never said he didn’t have a right to post his comment, I simply asked how it related to the article posted. I didn’t ask for your advice regarding OIB. In the future, when you are considering giving me any advice, please don’t. You are most definitely not in a position to speak on the “humility” of others. It is you who believes they breathe different air than others, not I.
Ms. Pereira,
“I didn’t ask for your advice regarding OIB.”
Of course you didn’t but the nature of a blog, I have discovered, is you will get questions (that don’t get answered), opinions that are not sought, and assumptions others make, erroneously or not, like yours, “It is you who believe they breathe different air than others, not I.”
I have used the word “humility” in two recent postings. It has multiple meanings but some of them would include a basic respect for others so when one attacks their opinions or facts, one is not attacking them as Bridgeporters who are also trying their best to make the City a better place. Another meaning could be to have a capacity to acknowledge one or more personal statements, positions or opinions was misspoken, in error, or based on an incomplete understanding of something else.
Where have you been testing air quality in Bridgeport lately? Or is your last comment an invention meant to close communication and consequently not need to be fact-based? Time will tell.
Mr. Lee, I do not recollect offering anyone advice on this blog. An opinion is just that, an opinion. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not their own set of facts. When someone offers their opinion they are offering their personal perspective on a particular issue, which may or may not be steeped in fact. When someone states something as a fact, then they should have no problem substantiating their assertions. I have not “attacked” anyone regarding their “opinion.” I am defending myself against a claim that is completely false and without merit. I will own the truth but I will not accept someone falsely claiming I did something I absolutely did not. Since you feel it is appropriate to offer unsolicited advice, here is some advice for you; I recommend you loosen your bow tie, it appears it may be cinched too tightly around your neck. And since you already breathe air at a higher altitude when compared to the rest of Bridgeport’s commoners, it is clearly affecting your ability to absorb comments on this blog and process them in an intelligent and logical manner.
We are running out of space, Ms. Pereira, so I need to get out of order to respond to you. I am not wearing a bow tie today so your “opinion” about my tie and breathing is off base.
You want the freedom to address all people in an aggressive manner, perhaps get cut some slack because you are a female (but that might be a “double standard” you do not embrace) and return to your plaint, “only the facts,” “just my opinion” and I have a right to one, and “if I want your advice, I’ll ask for it,” but you can say almost anything you wish with clever phrasing and escape comment?
Today you fail to factually back up your initial statement about me breathing different air from others in this City and have now inserted a new claim about “commoners” and me. Opinions, Ms. Pereira, or facts? Time will tell.
It doesn’t. I made a general comment, which I am allowed to do. You don’t run this blog.
Mr. Lee, I was unaware you had been designated the “OIB BOUNCER.” My initial question was clearly not directed to you but you took it upon yourself to post “aggressive” remarks towards me. I will be “aggressive” with individuals who post complete and absolute falsehoods about me on this blog. I believe in equal rights and don’t expect any special treatment because I am a woman. In turn, please do not expect any special dispensation because you are a senior citizen. My comments were never meant to be factual, they were a combination of “opinion” and “unsolicited advice.”
No, I don’t run this blog, and neither do you.
The local BOE can’t reduce poverty. The local BOE can’t tell parents how to raise their children. There are so many factors that come into play, but it starts at home. I agree, the infighting among them, the outbursts from one of them don’t help. The bottom line is there is so much to fix. In my opinion parent outreach has to be one of the priorities.
Eric, you are 100% correct. The BOE can’t really end poverty. What the BOE can do is put people in charge of schools by their qualifications and not by their politically correct heritage.
They can offer courses to high school students who are not going to college. These kids need to know you can make it without a college degree. I did it and made more money than most college students. College does not guarantee money. If we get the non-college kids ready for the work world we have taken a step back from poverty.
I don’t know if you can change course material but the math we are teaching now is producing mathematical idiots. Why does a kid need to explain in depth why 2 plus 2 equals 4? There is no valid reason. Eric, I must say you are an intelligent voice of reason and the kids need more people like you.
Andy,
You bring up a great point about the math curriculum. A little case study in my home. My oldest daughter, who’s going into the fifth grade started out being taught math the “old way,” she’s struggling with Singapore math. My youngest daughter, who’s going into second grade, was taught the new method straight away, same school, she gets it. Changing methods has proven to be a challenge for a lot of students and their parents. The purpose of the new method is to “engage” analytical thinking, as opposed to just do this because this is the way it’s supposed to be. The new math strategy has become a pillar of CCSS–Common Core State Standards. Of course CCSS is really a money ploy pulling money from the poorest and giving it to the rich.
Certainly there is cronyism and nepotism going on, however the vast majority of administrators I have encountered are doing a good job. At Classical Studies, the whole school community has bought into the school culture. The required 40 hours of volunteer time make a difference. The teachers are truly invested and the students benefit from the parent engagement.
The CSA model was actually being considered as a template for Dunbar. We, the parent leaders of CSA asked for Dunbar when we advocated for K-8 for CSA.
I agree with you about college not being for everyone, but nowadays schooling beyond HS is required. Thanks for the compliment, it’s appreciated.
Eric, college may be required but many many students get tied up in college courses that mean nothing in the real job world. Arena Management, Music, History, Fire Investigation (no jobs) and the list goes on. The above courses cost a lot of money and bury people in debt.
My point is and was, kids not going to college by and large are ignored and warehoused until they graduate. They leave and have no hope. Neither of my sons went to college. Both work in the construction industry and make an average of $35/hr. Don’t get me wrong, they work hard for their money. There are many jobs out there for non-college grads but we are not getting the kids prepared.
The charters should have to comply with the same FOI rules that any group receiving tax money should. They may not have to comply with the same rules the BOE does because the BOE is an elected group and the choice to go to a charter is voluntary. Things like salary are considered personal information by many. The only group that publicizes the income of employees is the government. I am unaware of any government contractor who is required to post the pay rates of its employees. As a nonprofit they do list the pay for principal employees on page 24 of this form:
990s.foundationcenter.org/990pf_pdf_archive/061/061355463/061355463_201212_990PF.pdf
SPY, what difference does it make if the BOE is an elected group and charter schools are not? The FOIA is applicable to any and every public agency. Charter schools repeatedly claim they are “public schools” and they are funded with millions of tax payer funds. The state Board of Education is an appointed public agency and they would have to turn over the information if it were requested. Jumoke charter schools claim to be no different than Geraldine Johnson School. The Hartford Courant requested a list of all employees, not just the principal employees. If that very request was filed with Geraldine Johnson School, they would be required under the FOIA to supply that requested information. One has to ask, if they have nothing to hide and have done nothing wrong, why don’t they simply release the requested information?
Because they don’t want to. It is called the right to privacy. Charters should be covered by the same rules that cover any other government contractor. The DOD spends more for hammers than we spend on charters. Why should the charter schools have different rules than the hammer company? It is none of our business how much these people get paid. Our only concern is how much we pay and how well the kids do. From the FUSE 990 form, it looks like they have plenty of their own money. If a guy at FUSE gets paid $300K, all or most of that money could come from a non-taxpayer source. The difference is all the BOE money comes from us. They have none of their own money and they usually spend more of our money than they are allowed to. Is the BOE running a deficit yet? Can you find out for me, do they even know or do I have to file a FOI?
SPY, charter schools are already considered public agencies under the Freedom of Information Act. The vast majority of FUSE funding comes from CT taxpayers. The $335,000 contract they had with Milner School in Hartford was funded by taxpayers. The $435,000 contract they had with Dunbar School was funded by taxpayers. The contract they have with Jumoke charter schools, which the Hartford Courant reported was for over $550,000, was paid by taxpayers. Every single employee of Jumoke and FUSE is paid with taxpayer funds, not private funds. What deficit are you referring to? In the five years I have been involved with the BBOE, they have never had a deficit.