In his latest column, Scott Mooneyham gets tough on state education leaders, particularly Bill Harrison, the chairman of the State Board of Education.
Harrison had another complaint the other day: cronyism. He said some charter schools seem to care more about doling out jobs to friends and relatives than educating kids.
The critics ignore some fairly significant public support for the schools across socio-economic and racial boundaries. In the fall of 2008, more than 800 people showed up for a rally in Durham in support of school choice options. About two-thirds were African-American.
If North Carolina’s educational leaders believe that these folks are wrong-headed, that charter schools cause more harm than good, then they should make the case, very loudly and very publicly.
Or, if the state needs tougher rules to shut down failing charter schools, make that case.
Instead, the state has for more than a decade operated in some sort of twilight, where it neither rejects nor embraces charter schools.
That twilight isn’t good enough for federal education officials. Harrison can deny it all he wants. It won’t change it.
Bill Harrison needs to either 1) produce evidence of widespread cronyism within the charter school community or 2) resign his chairmanship immediately. The SBE has an obligation to protect all public schools, charter and district alike. If Harrison cannot maintain objectivity and impartiality in that role, then Bev Perdue should demand a letter of resignation from Harrison and appoint someone who can.
