Comments on: Do Charter Schools Comply With Idaho Constitution?

By: Clancy

Clancy — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:27:25 +0000

The Hidden Springs charter school turned out okay. Boise Schools purchased a nice school for 60% of the cost to build it. This might be the best way to fund new buildings since the state will not.

By: My Two Cents

My Two Cents — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:16:23 +0000

I agree with Flyhead. If you do not want your kids to go to public school, then pay for private school. This ridiculous hybrid of a cherry-picked private school setting but with taxpayer money is just wrong. Do we all remember the Hidden Springs fiasco? They wanted a charter school as I recall but did not want”outsiders” attending (though they were happy to use outsiders’ tax dollars to fund it). We should all strive to make our public schools better, rather than find them lacking and then going elsewhere. And before anyone asks, yes I have a kid who attended public elementary through high schools very successfully.

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:36:10 +0000

The only fully funded education these kids are getting are a desk and text book in Public Schools. There are ID cards to be purchase to attend games, sports have be paid for (baseball cost $200), football was another matter. Art classes ??? over and above.
So in this time for those who are limited with incomes your child can go to school but let them stand by and watch the others with better incomes excell as otherwise they can’t be a part of the activities. Slam Dunk for so many.
Once upon a time these were all inclusive. This morning the News indicated cutting and redecorating even the janitorial and teacher wages. These teachers have to continually take classes & educated which is not free either. How many gradeschool teachers are providing supplys for their classes?
Color isn’t the issue here. It’s all about the money with this system. If Public Schools get more kids back they get more funding but not necessarly better education. The prison systems work on this same concept.

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:51:49 +0000

Every child should attend a fully funded public school. Every child. Fully funded.

By: JamesBond

JamesBond — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:20:37 +0000

Yes, in Idaho, charter schools do seem to be a darling of a signficant faction of the right. Not my faction of the right, but a significant faction. This faction is the one that likes to get it some government welfare as much as any left winger!

By: slfisher

slfisher — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:54:14 +0000

In many states, they are indeed used for minorities, kids with issues, and so on. But it’s true that in Idaho, they’re whiter than surrounding schools.

By: Grumpy ole guy

Grumpy ole guy — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:31:34 +0000

Charter schools are many things to many people in many places. They began as another way for Tea Party types to keep their (pure white kids) out of the corrupting influences of public schools. There are many models now-a-days and some are excellent and some are not. They all are in competition with public schools. Yes, in some cases they skim off the cream of the crop of the teachers, and who can blame teachers for following the money to more friendly teaching environments with more supportive parents. In worst cases the administrators inflate their own salaries, pad the administrative staff with their buddies and don’t give a damn about the kids education.
In Idaho – the Constitution does say that the STATE is responsible for a free public education; but, in the 100 plus years of trying it hasn’t seemed to yet figure out what that means OR how to realize it.

By: Mame

Mame — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:56:03 +0000

The existence of charter schools demonstrates the deficiencies of Idaho’s public schools, which are forced to deal with a sneaky Legislature happy to spend bucks on themselves but not on education, and the continual republican majority elections of ignorant,inadequate, party-line type education officers. Ya get what ya votes for, peepul.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:35:19 +0000

If I had to the pick of the litter at this point it would be Charter Schooling any day of the week. We experience the most horrid siutations in Meridian High with over crowding of the school, classes and staff whom couldn’t keep their records straight, goes on and on. Meridian needs all the help they can get. It’s all about the Money once more. Quality makes a difference. We wonder why Idaho is nationally low on the totum poll with education. Perhaps there is another means for Charters with some means of support financially as we really do need them.
Constitunially it is a parents right as well. So does this leave Homeschool which many opt to? Even Alaska provides materials to be educated at home (no cost) with teachers available. It was costing the state $3,000 per year to educated the year verses $10,000 annually for them to be in public school. Just a thought to think on Public. Yes, it has draw backs when parents can’t be home in todays world work attempting to work and paying taxes.
I also believe Children are far safer in Charters than any public school in these areas. It’s going to get worse and then public schools are going to cry of overcrowding and no money. Instead of the max at 30 students per class a given teacher will 40 to 50. Then everyone will blame the teach due to scores she wasn’t effective enough. This is criminal to the teacher and the kids.
My two cents.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 01:17:18 +0000

Since when does the constitution or laws have to be followed? Oh that’s right the citizenry has to follow the rules but, the elected/appointed elite just do what they want. Most things done around here are done with a wink and a nod over a shot of ole #7. Dynamis, probation as an off shoot of the sheriff’s dept, ect, ect.