LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Charter schools lack accountability

Published 1:54 pm Tuesday, October 30, 2012

To the editor:

Under I-1240, which would allow privately run, public-funded charter schools, private boards selected by corporations rather than publicly elected school boards would govern these schools. We would lose our right to elect (or un-elect) representatives to oversee the spending of our taxes, yet our property taxes through a levy could pay for a charter school in addition to our current schools.

A new, unelected state commission would be created to authorize and oversee charter schools rather than the constitutionally mandated and publicly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction. This politically appointed commission would not be accountable to voters, taxpayers or elected officials.

Sounds like “taxation without representation” to me, and that is just one reason why I’ll be voting no on I-1240.

Please join the state PTA, League of Women Voters of WA, NAACP, El Centro de la Raza, and many parents, educators and concerned citizens across this state in opposing I-1240.

Barbara Seitle

Oak Harbor