Top Ten Reasons Not to Change WMEP Schools to Charters

There are rumblings about what the future of the two WMEP schools may bring. There are worries that Minneapolis, or another district, may withdraw from WMEP and that might lead to the eventual collapse of the system that supports the two schools. One idea that gets whispered about is turning FAIR and IDDS into charter schools. Not so fast! Here are ten reasons why this idea should not be on the front burner.

Top Ten Reasons Why This Would Be a Bad Time to Turn FAIR and IDDS into Charter Schools:

10. There are easier, more straightforward ways to deal with administrative structure issues. It seems that with the recent policy change among WMEP districts the board will be more manageable. Minneapolis Superintendent Bill Green advocates for parent representation. Some voices have begun talking about either eliminating the superintendents position or combining with other integration districts in administrative ways.

9. What public school equity and integration credentials does the likely perspective charter sponsor have? Is a higher ed name association as important as n identity as a integration body?

8. Our partnership with Stages Theatre is a WMEP agreement. Would Stages want to antagonize 11 cooperating member districts to make nice with two charter schools?

7. After the next couple of years (admittedly probably not in the next couple of sessions) there is the possibility that the legislature might fund integration schools directly – eliminating some of the headaches associated with being run by a board managed by member districts.

6. Similarly, there are real rumblings at the legislature that a new type of school may be created that would function in the half-way ground between charters and regular public schools. These schools would have some additional freedoms and some safeguards not presently found. Waiting to see if this type of school may develop might be a better answer.

5. Charter schools have notoriously difficult times financing things they need. Do our staff development opportunities through things like the Cultural Collaborative continue with the same robustness? Would a charter school be able to keep current with competitive salaries current teachers earn?

4. There is no assurance that WMEP would sign over the buildings. Starting again in buildings not constructed for our purposes would be more than difficult. Additionally, with the buildings would go many of our capital purchases: media equipment; art facilities such as kilns, wheels and musical instruments; texts and media center inventory; etc.

3. By state law, converting existing schools to charter schools requires 60% of staff to agree. Charter schools can hire non-licensed teachers. Do enough licensed teachers think it is a wise idea to be able to hire non-licensed (probably cheaper) teachers for jobs currently requiring one? Promises made about how hiring would include only licensed teachers might be in contradiction to charter law as it would probably constitute a promise about union rights – something a charter school may not be able to do according to statute. Would seniority and continuing contract status be voided?

2. Our schools already suffer from people thinking we are not real public schools. This hurts our chances of attracting students. Rightly or wrongly, a large percentage of the public perceives charter schools as lesser schools. In addition, many parents don't want to lose their ties to the member district where they live. Our schools' current status preserves that affiliation; it doesn't seem likely that charter schools would leave parents feeling the same way.

1. Do we influence integration and equity issues in member districts – our real purpose for existing - when we stand apart from them? Surely when IDDS and FAIR can claim membership in all of the WMEP districts we have more ability to be part of the solutions. If we run into the shelter of charter sponsorship are we really going to be leaders in forcing the member districts to face the facts about educational inequity?