R. Bruce Dold’s June 26 commentary about the charter school debate under way within the northwest suburbs unfairly represents Community Consolidated School District 59 as a member of the “Evil Education Empire,” a public school district “talking about preserving the status quo.” What may appear to be a politically correct commentary harbors on half-truths and is absent of relevant facts about the issues surrounding the charter school debate.
Mr. Dold is correct that on three separate occasions, charter applications submitted to the School District 59 Board of Education were denied. In each case the board found the charter failed to meet the full requirements of the Illinois charter school law. The first two incidents involved multiple school districts with all districts denying the issuance of a charter. Upon appeal, in both cases, the Illinois Sate Board of Education concurred with local school districts stipulating the charter applications failed to comply with the law.
In the most recent case, which is the substance of Mr. Dold’s commentary, the Illinois State Board of Education reversed the decision of the District 59 Boardand granted conditional approval for a charter. The state board stipulated two major conditions must be met before awarding a charter: submission of a viable facility plan showing the lease or acquisition of a suitable school facility meeting all legal requirements no less than 30 days before school opens, and submission of an updated budget for school operations, based upon the school’s final projected enrollment for the first year of operation, no less than 30 days before school opens.
Both conditions were identified by the District 59 Board as reasons for denial of a charter.
Mr. Dold’s commentary about a “charter school debate” continues what has become an all too common role of the news media in displaying public education as an Evil Empire unresponsive to its constituents. Mr. Dold failed to address in his commentary the lack of community interest for this charter proposal, the quality educational programs offered by District 59, the district’s outstanding professional staff, up-to-date school facilities, excellent standardized test scores or national recognition because of educational reform initiatives and use of technologies.
Mr. Dold also failed to include any reference to the dedication, time commitment and civic responsibility held by seven community members who serve without pay as members of the District 59 Board. These are not members of an Evil Empire! They are citizens of School District 59 who are committed to fostering the intellectual, cultural, social and physical development of children.
If Mr. Dold would have read the public documents associated with this case, perhaps he would have commented about the public statements made by members of the District 59 Board in support of charter schools and the recognition extended by members of this board to a dedicated group of community members interested in formation of a charter school. Instead Mr. Dold criticized a decision made by the elected representatives of the School District 59 community. He has misinterpreted the action of the District 59 Board of Education as cause for “preserving the status quo.”
