In the news...

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.

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