Tennessee appeal hearings start on rejected charter schools
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee panel has kicked off hearings over whether to let charter schools linked to Hillsdale College open despite rejections from local school boards, a process unfolding in the wake of controversial comments about teachers by Hillsdale's president.
On Wednesday, only advocates for opening the school in Rutherford County, which includes booming suburbs of Nashville, spoke during a public comment session in front of Tennessee Public Charter School Commission staff. Michelle Garcia, a volunteer board member for the American Classical Education charter group and a Rutherford County mother, afterward touted the testimony of the dozen or so people as an indicator that “local parents, teachers and students want more public education choices.”
But opponents of the schools showed up as well, several of whom said they wanted to testify at the meeting, but the speaking slots were capped and quickly filled weeks ahead of time. They gathered outside before and after the meeting in front of TV cameras to voice their concerns. Written comments are still being accepted.
“As moms who had to find child care and take off work, it took us some time to figure out if we could be here,” said Lea Maiten, who opposes the school. “And by the time we did, there was no opportunity for us to speak.”
Still, a decision on the American Classical Academy Rutherford won't come for weeks.
The commission's top staffer will recommend whether to let the school open or not, but ultimately, the choice will be made at an Oct. 5 meeting by the nine-member board. Some voting members — all of whom are appointed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee — were on hand to listen in during Wednesday's hearing.
Similar hearings are scheduled Thursday in Jackson and Friday in Clarksville for...