You mean it’s NOT about the kids after all?
Monday, July 7th, 2008 By David Hansen
Youngstown teacher union boss Will Bagnola should be credited for candor in revealing the YEA’s true interests in thwarting kids from getting the education they need from a charter school. According to the Youngstown Vindicator:
Will Bagnola, teachers union president, said the Youngstown Education Association’s chief concern was that sending city kids to the charter school could result in job losses for teachers in the regular system.
Oh, and when the educational status quo and the Governor come to you next year seeking a tax increase to spend more on schools, remember the breathtaking cynicism of the Youngstown school district, currently in fiscal emergency status and operating under state financial supervision, in circumventing fiscal controls on the taxpayer behalf (and in inviting a hasty return to emergency status):
The latest version of the agreement is a compromise, which essentially says the charter school is independent and not subject to the YEA contract. Once the [state fiscal] oversight commission finishes its work and leaves town, any loss of pupils in the city schools because of the charter school won’t result in reduction in teacher ranks for at least three years.
Because it doesn’t take effect until the city schools leave fiscal emergency, it won’t require oversight commission approval.
Tags: Charter Schools, Education, Pork, School Choice, Spending, Teacher Unions
