It is hard to say what our local charter’s parents have learned from the upheaval at the school. It reminds me of stories about running any small business. So, I looked up some. I found a classic. Top Ten Reasons Small Businesses Fail was published in the New York Times a few years ago. It may have been written by a former charter school owner: money woes, poor management skills, personality driven operations that can lead to big problems. The author states: Rarely does the owner’s finger point to the owner.
Charters are supposed to have governing boards that supply expertise and perspective on operations. Too often, they do not. Instead boards are often cronies; friends of the owner. They preside instead of work at the task of evaluating operations. They rubber stamp. They may mean well, but they do not know what they do not know. What should they know? What should our legislators do? We have collected a list. It is time for the League to go to work.