Comments on: As Avondale Charter School Plans For Lottery, Tensions Between Decatur & Avondale Remain

By: Karass

Karass — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:41:11 +0000

In addition, the way the CSD system charter is working, there isn’t yet a whole lot of ressemblance to a charter school. The amount of influence that the SLT’s have had has been minimal and system impact principal is often invoked when CSD doesn’t want an SLT to do something. After this issue came to light during the last School Board election, the SLTs have been able to get a bit more traction. This is a good or bad thing depending on your view of how much influence parents, the community, and teachers should have on governing their schools.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:38:15 +0000

Yes sorry cranky, it’s confusing. And I’m realizing maybe I didn’t do a very good job explaining it!

CSD isn’t against LOCALLY APPROVED charter schools, just one’s created by the state commission. From what I’ve gathered, what CSD worries about is that, IN THEORY, someone could create a state-approved charter school in Decatur, start attracting students, and all that tax money would follow the children.

The argument against that is that an area with good schools doesn’t need to worry about independent charter schools, since there isn’t a real need for them.

And that’s where the tension is.

CSD can’t join the Gwinnett lawsuit, so they voluntarily came up with a resolution supporting it. Folks associated with the Museum School have taken offense, because CSD, not under any immediate duress, are now essentially making it known that the very law which made the Museum School possible, is illegal and should be repealed.

By: cranky old timer

cranky old timer — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:55:33 +0000

I don’t understand. isn’t the dcs a charter school system? why would they be protesting other charter schools?

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:39:18 +0000

Decatur has officially stated that it supports the lawsuit brought by Gwinnett against the state-approved charter school legislation. The Museum School exists because of this legislation. If any of the lawsuits are successful, it would eliminate such schools.

By: JEM

JEM — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:27:04 +0000

This includes more children than Midway Woods. It includes any child zoned into Midway Elementary and Avondale Elementary upon the closing of Forrest Hills Elementary. Although many of the children living in Forrest Hills go to private, charter, or magnet schools, hopefully others will be able to attend the Museum School.