To the Editor:

The recent decision to oppose charter schools legislation by the Alabama House Education Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee should be viewed as a victory for Alabama ’s public school pupils. There remain numerous questions about charter schools’ performance and management.

One of the selling points for proponents of charter schools is their track record to improve the academic achievement gap among poor and minority students. Disadvantage and low-income are used to obtain million of dollars for poverty-stricken areas. However, the money is often used for questionable educational programs.

Many vendors target school districts with high percentages of at-risk pupils to sell their supposedly proven successful programs. Some of these school districts are vulnerable to “quick fix” solutions. It takes an average of three years to measure valid results of newly implemented concepts. Some educational salesmen will consume school funds like vultures eating at a decaying carcass. They will linger around until schools’ coffers are bare-boned. The public has become alarmed and demands greater financial accountability.

Reform initiatives in public education and private management of public schools should be carefully scrutinized. There is an increase in academic fraud. An article titled, “Charter School Fraud in California”, indicates that state educators are seeking criminal charges against the executives of a charter school operation after an audit found they had misused at least $25.6 million in public education money, including $2.6 million for personal expenses.

The audit found that executives of the now-closed California Charter Academy used public funds to pay for personal watercrafts, travel, health spa visits, Disney-related merchandise and more. Two employees even paid their income taxes with $42,000 in school funds. The audit can be seen at www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cs/ac/documents/csccaaudit.pdf.

Freedom from the rules that govern public schools leads to more corruption by private companies that manage public schools. State legislators and education policymakers should safeguard Alabama’s public schoolchildren from being victims of education scam artists. Elected officials, school boards, and school administrators are expected to be good stewards of taxpayers ’ money. In addition, school officials need to be acutely aware of consultants and consultant firms. Some are ineffective, and they are rapidly multiplying.

An attempt to divert money from public schools is an act of “sabotage” toward public education. The majority of school-aged children in Alabama attend public schools; therefore, there remains a public for public education in this great state.

Gerald Shirley,

Principal,

School of Discovery

Selma, AL

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The Pickens County Herald welcomes letters to the editor; however, there are a few things we ask of those who do write in. First, all letters must be signed and include complete mailing addresses. We will not run unsigned letters. Also, please include your telephone number; this is needed for verification purposes, but the number will not be printed. Letters without phone numbers that cannot be verified will not be printed. Please keep letters as brief as possible. We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, or possible libel, but we will not change the tone of meaning of your letter.

The Herald's editorial page is for opinions and comments. Editorials of the Herald are the opinion of the

management. Other articles, cartoons, or letters are the opinions of the writers, whose names are included, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the management.

This newspaper tries to report news fairly and accurately. When we fall short of that objective, we welcome complaints from our readers. Please direct your comments to Doug Sanders Jr., Editor and Publisher, at the Pickens County Herald, P.O. Box 390, Carrollton, AL 35447. You may call during regular business hours at 367-2217. We do not knowingly make misstatements of fact. If we find that we have, we will gladly make a correction in the next issue.

Publisher/Editor ... Doug Sanders, Jr.

Business Manager ........... Ann Gates

Sports Editor .......... Kevin Strickland

Staff Writer ........... Matthew Satcher

The Pickens County Herald (ISSN 0893-0767) is published weekly at

215 Reform Street, P.O. Box 390, Carrollton, AL 35447. Phone 205-367-2217. Entered as Periodicals at the Post Office at Carrollton, AL 35447. Annual subscription rate is $29.50 for one year or $18.00 for six months for Pickens County residents; $33.00 per year or $21.00 per six months for adjoining counties. Subscriptions for Pickens County senior citizens (Pickens County ONLY) 65 and over are $22 for one year or $14 for six months. All others are $40.00 per year or $24.00 for six months.

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