Editorial: Both sides of the charter issue
The Gloucester Community Arts Charter School finally opened its doors yesterday, 15 days after the Gloucester Public Schools.
The big question is, how long will it remain open?
Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester has come full circle on the charter school. Nearly two years ago, when the application was still pending and he and other state officials needed to prove to federal officials that the state wasn’t hostile to charter schools, Chester made sure a charter was granted to the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School.
Now, with federal Race to the Top education money already on its way, and more appropriate charter applications in the works for the future, the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School is no longer the apple of his eye.
Putting aside its dubious start in life, the charter school has continued to be a “tough pill to swallow,” to borrow a phrase from Education Secretary Paul Reville.
The Attorney General is dissatisfied with the school’s response to her findings that the school violated bidding procedures.
In addition, judge has said he will reconsider an injunction against the school – possibly shutting down – when the budget cycle starts up later this year. The lawsuit by public school parents against the charter is still pending, and was not thrown out as the charter school attorney predicted.
And Chester himself has sent two letters in the past week “strongly urging” GCACS officials not to open the school, and predicting a short future for it if it does.
The happiness of the students and families gathered
