A
newly formed charter school based in a Mount Clemens trailer – at least for now
– is under fire for holding one of its school board meetings in a bar.
newly formed charter school based in a Mount Clemens trailer – at least for now
– is under fire for holding one of its school board meetings in a bar.
A
complaint filed by Mount Clemens Community Schools officials says that the
board of directors for the Great Lakes Anchor Academy held a regularly
scheduled January meeting at a pub, Mangan’s Irish Hut, which is
located in the same parking lot where the academy’s mobile office is located in a
trailer until its permanent home is finalized.
complaint filed by Mount Clemens Community Schools officials says that the
board of directors for the Great Lakes Anchor Academy held a regularly
scheduled January meeting at a pub, Mangan’s Irish Hut, which is
located in the same parking lot where the academy’s mobile office is located in a
trailer until its permanent home is finalized.
Amy Niebert, founder and chief academic officer for the academy,
said the board of directors met at Irish Hut as a last resort after the trailer
encountered electricity issues during the harsh winter.
said the board of directors met at Irish Hut as a last resort after the trailer
encountered electricity issues during the harsh winter.
“The weather was atrocious that day, so we moved the meeting
over to the Irish Hut and we put a note on our (trailer) window telling people
where we were meeting at,” Niebert told The Macomb Daily. “I believe we are in
compliance with the law.”
over to the Irish Hut and we put a note on our (trailer) window telling people
where we were meeting at,” Niebert told The Macomb Daily. “I believe we are in
compliance with the law.”
Mount Clemens Schools Superintendent Deborah Wahlstrom said the
decision to meet in a bar showed poor judgment.
decision to meet in a bar showed poor judgment.
“They could have gone to Burger King in the same parking lot.
I’m not sure they understand they are using public dollars and should behave in
such a manner,” she said.
I’m not sure they understand they are using public dollars and should behave in
such a manner,” she said.
The Groesbeck Highway location of the trailer also includes a
family-style restaurant. Across the street is a MacDonald’s and a Big Boy.
family-style restaurant. Across the street is a MacDonald’s and a Big Boy.
The complaint filed with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
alleges that the academy has repeatedly violated the state’s Open Meetings Act.
alleges that the academy has repeatedly violated the state’s Open Meetings Act.
The academy is accused of not listing public notices for some
meetings its website, while other notices had differing times or lacked
locations. Some notices were logged on the website after the meetings were
held, the complaint states. In another case, a meeting notice was posted after
the session had been cancelled.
meetings its website, while other notices had differing times or lacked
locations. Some notices were logged on the website after the meetings were
held, the complaint states. In another case, a meeting notice was posted after
the session had been cancelled.
The academy, which is signing up kids for grades 5-9, claims that the school district views Great
Lakes as a threat to take away public school students. School district
officials say the academy’s method of handling public notices is just one odd
aspect of how the fledgling school, which is set to open in September, has
operated.
Lakes as a threat to take away public school students. School district
officials say the academy’s method of handling public notices is just one odd
aspect of how the fledgling school, which is set to open in September, has
operated.
For example, the academy boasts that it offers a unique maritime
curriculum that was developed by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets. Yet, the Mount
Clemens schools already offer a Sea Cadets program.
curriculum that was developed by the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets. Yet, the Mount
Clemens schools already offer a Sea Cadets program.
Local parents may be leery from a more basic standpoint.
The academy will be located in a portion of a building on Groesbeck near Cass
Avenue where a retail fireworks store operates.
The academy will be located in a portion of a building on Groesbeck near Cass
Avenue where a retail fireworks store operates.
Some renovations will be done, of course, but this is a huge
fireworks supermarket. Maybe one of the largest in the area.
fireworks supermarket. Maybe one of the largest in the area.
The result is that tens of thousands of individual explosives –
maybe more than 100,000, I don’t know – will be located right next to a school
full of small children.
maybe more than 100,000, I don’t know – will be located right next to a school
full of small children.
Talk about a constant worry for academy officials. Maybe that’s
why they chose a site with a bar just down the way.
why they chose a site with a bar just down the way.
And the Legislature hath decreed that this bunch of hucksters will get the same per-pupil funding for every kid they manage to pry away from ACTUAL schools.
Which is the whole point of today's privatized charter movement — legalizing the conversion of public tax dollars into private profits, not actually DELIVERING on the wild promises being made, gaming the regulations to avoid the inevitable day of reckoning (when parents and communities finally realize that their kids have just been screwed out of a decent education), and then breaking the contract and skipping town (like Mosaica did a couple months back in Muskegon Heights).
To be clear…charter school students do not receive the same per pupil funding yet are held to same exact standards. This particular school, a NON PROFIT, is a choice for parents in the community. Your comment about "managing to PRY away students is ludicrous". That implies that the traditional school has control over their educational CHOICE. Parents, like myself, are much smarter than that and DEMAND that their child (ren) get a good education. You probably also are not aware that charter schools typically will not be authorized in areas that cannot demonstrate NEED. Perhaps you haven't checked out the NEED in Mount Clemens. I was sent this link a few weeks ago and am disgusted with what this ACTUAL school is doing! Check it out here and tell me that this district is DELIVERING what they promised: to educate kids!
https://www.mischooldata.org/DistrictSchoolProfiles/ReportCard/EducationDashboard.aspx.
http://www.academyofwarren.net/pdfs/2013%20-%20funding%20disparity%20charter%20schools.pdf