School officials offer differing views to council

By GORDON D. KING
Staff Writer

FRANKLIN — City councilors, by a 4-3 vote, have taken what is being called the first step to establishment of a charter school.

Councilors voted to hold a hearing to consider the adoption of state laws pertaining to charter schools after a lengthy and heated debate during which even Mayor Tony Giunta was overruled.

The vote to proceed with the hearing came despite School Board Chairman Kathy Fuller’s comments that the full board has never considered or discussed charter schools. Words of caution from interim Superintendent of Schools Richard Lalley that a charter school would exceed the city’s tax cap limitation on spending were also ignored.

City Solicitor Paul Fitzgerald said the city is not committing itself to anything by holding the hearing.

The issue was brought to the meeting by School Board member and former chairman Bill Grimm, who recently attended a conference on charter schools. He said he considers this educational plan an option which the task force looking into the high school’s drop-out rate should consider.

The session was scheduled as an informational presentation by Dr. Sue Hollins, director of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy.

Councilor Dennis Reed questioned the presentation prior to Hollins being introduced and asked why the council was being asked to vote on the matter.

"This is being pushed down our throats the same as the water deal was forced on us. This is the first time most of us have heard about a charter school," Reed said. His comments regarding water were in reference to officials from the Pennichuck Water Company meeting with the council to discuss the possibility of buying the city’s water system.

Grimm said holding a hearing is just the first step in the process in case the council wanted to move forward on this idea.

Hollins said the state Department of Education has issued seven charters but to date there are no charter schools in the state.

"Six towns said no. Tamworth voters said yes but a school did not open because they could not get out of an AREA (Authorized Regional Enrollment Area) agreement," she said.

She said there are 2,500 charter schools around the country. Students are not assigned to these schools, they attend by choice.

Hollins said the legislative body in the city must approve a proposal so it can go forward. The council is the legislative body in Franklin.

According to Hollins, many of the charter schools around the country are supported by the local school boards.

She explained that the budget for a charter school could be just a line item in the regular school district budget.

"You could even have it within the existing school," she said.

The recently passed federal education law contains funds to help start charter schools, she said.

There are no proposals for a charter school at this time, according to Grimm.

"If you don’t allow ideas to come forward, you will never know if you would have benefited from it," Hollins said. She also offered her expertise and technical support to draft a proposal.

Reed said he had not heard anything from the School Board about a charter school. He asked the mayor if he would question the board chairman.

"When she comes before us at the public hearing she can tell us then," Mayor Giunta said.

"Are you denying us the opportunity to question her now?" Reed asked.

"Yes," the mayor replied.

"You told us earlier you would stay here all night if necessary to get information and now you are telling us we can’t ask her questions," Reed said.

Reed asked that the mayor reconsider. The issue was put to a vote and the council overrode the mayor’s objections and let Fuller speak.

"Personally, I have some reservations about this. The board has not had the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of this. We need to hear more about this. You are moving too fast," Fuller said.

The board chairman also said she was not aware the council was going to act on the issue.

"Our school budget has been prepared. There is noting in the budget to even cover grant writing. The School Board will have to take some action at some point," Fuller said.

Lalley was also allowed to address the issue.

"I suggest before any group involves a lot of time that you work on a theoretical school, a group of 50 to 100 students. Work out a budget for it and you will see that a charter school will cost more than the tax cap will allow," Lalley said.

The superintendent said the state law regarding charter schools is flawed.

"It doesn’t provide funding, and takes way from public schools," he said.

Councilors Ken Merrifield, Michael Downing , Doug Boyd and David Palfrey voted to hold the hearing. Councilors Pauline Colby, Clayton Gassett and Reed voted against.

Councilor Glen Feener abstained from voting saying he wanted to know more information about charter schools He also said he wants to know what strings are tied to the federal grants available for charter schools.

Following the vote, Fuller said she personally supports looking into the concept if the money can be found and it doesn’t come from those funds used for public education.

Grimm said he supports the concept because Franklin schools are not doing what they should for students.

"The task force studying the drop-out rate was just formed last month. Grimm said there is no proposal for a charter school "on the table" but it is an option for the task force to look at.

"It’s hard to conceive that it will pass though," he said.

The hearing is scheduled for April 17 at 7:30 p.m.