Due to too many frustrating Gloucester Daily Times editorials (frustrating not just because I disagree with them) that fail to represent the voices of the community I have been turning my attention to the Cape Ann Beacon.
From last Thursday's Beacon:
GLOUCESTER - The first such public hearing of its kind in the history of the Massachusetts Legislature took place at Gloucester City Hall Monday night, before a packed audience of parents, residents, and city officials concerned about the state’s approval of the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School.
Responding to an unprecedented request that the legislature step in and review the process of an executive state board that has already acted, on the basis of that process, to approve a charter school for Gloucester, a panel of lawmakers co-chaired by Rep. Martha “Marty” Walz (D-Boston) and Sen. Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable) convened in Gloucester to look into allegations that the process contained many irregularities that raise doubts about why and how it resulted in a decision to grant approval to the charter.
Three hours of testimony, including questions raised emphatically by Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) and Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) as initiators of the investigation, deepened emotions on all sides. Many more questions were raised than answered, leaving the panel with a lot to digest as it considers what was said.
Though it was not clear what exactly the next step will be — since this is an unprecedented situation — Ferrante said she intends to meet with Walz by the end of this week, and to keep the pressure up for resolution of some kind as quickly as possible.
To finish reading the article click here.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Oversight Hearing, Gloucester, MA
The oversight hearing that took place on June 8th in Gloucester, held to investigate the application and approval process of the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School, will air on Cape Ann TV tonight at 8:00 p.m. on channel 12.
Link to Cape Ann TV Schedule
The hearing can also be viewed on youtube in 10 minute increments. Take a close look at Clip 19, in particular, during which Commissioner Mitchell Chester addresses the audience at the end of the three hour hearing.
Oversight Hearing on youtube
Link to Cape Ann TV Schedule
The hearing can also be viewed on youtube in 10 minute increments. Take a close look at Clip 19, in particular, during which Commissioner Mitchell Chester addresses the audience at the end of the three hour hearing.
Oversight Hearing on youtube
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Office Urged Nixing Charter
Gloucester Daily Times story here.
It should be noted that the charter office consists of individuals who are hired by the state to rigorously and vigorously review charter applications. Members of the charter office attend public hearings, attend applicant interviews and review applications. The charter school office recommended not to recommend the GCA charter in late January or early February of 2009.
Before this recommendation was made the 3 1/2 hour public hearing had taken place on December 11, 2008 (2 members of the charter office attended along with the assistant commissioner--no voting Board of Education member attended our hearing), 151 letters opposing the school and 16 letters supporting the school had been received by the commissioner/charter office, a charter applicant interview had transpired and the January 27, 2009 Board of Education meeting had taken place during which the board voted to retroactively waive the requirement that a voting board member be present at our hearing.
In short, the charter office did not make a recommendation in a vacuum. Between January 30, 2009 and February 13, 2009 Commissioner Mitchell Chester chose to dismiss the charter office's recommendation. How can his recommendation to approve the GCA charter be explained?
Please attend the public hearing on Monday, June 8th--5 p.m. at City Hall--being held by state legislators to draw attention to possible procedural errors in the application and approval process for the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School.
It should be noted that the charter office consists of individuals who are hired by the state to rigorously and vigorously review charter applications. Members of the charter office attend public hearings, attend applicant interviews and review applications. The charter school office recommended not to recommend the GCA charter in late January or early February of 2009.
Before this recommendation was made the 3 1/2 hour public hearing had taken place on December 11, 2008 (2 members of the charter office attended along with the assistant commissioner--no voting Board of Education member attended our hearing), 151 letters opposing the school and 16 letters supporting the school had been received by the commissioner/charter office, a charter applicant interview had transpired and the January 27, 2009 Board of Education meeting had taken place during which the board voted to retroactively waive the requirement that a voting board member be present at our hearing.
In short, the charter office did not make a recommendation in a vacuum. Between January 30, 2009 and February 13, 2009 Commissioner Mitchell Chester chose to dismiss the charter office's recommendation. How can his recommendation to approve the GCA charter be explained?
Please attend the public hearing on Monday, June 8th--5 p.m. at City Hall--being held by state legislators to draw attention to possible procedural errors in the application and approval process for the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School.
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