There are circumstances where charter schools are a good idea. Initiative 1240 doesn’t create them. I-1240 requires the approval of “authorizers” of school charters based on the standards of the private, out-of-state National Association of Charter School Authorizers. “Authorizers” then must (not may) review school charters and they must (not may) approve charters based on those standards. Then they collect 4 percent of the school’s budget, including any levy money. To win this power they are only required to say that their intentions are good.
But they can convert existing schools anywhere if half of the school’s teachers or parents sign an NACSA-approved petition. That means that fewer than 20 employed teachers could decide that we taxpayers no longer have a say in how an average elementary school operates. Nine political appointees in Olympia would have that say.
Those 20 votes could revoke local control of your school, but still require the district to fund it with local levy dollars. After conversion, no voter would have a choice. To prevent this unwise meddling in Washington schools, and prevent increased costs, larger government, and loss of taxpayer control, join me in voting “no” on I-1240.
Rob Perkins
Vancouver
