School Board says NO to Charter Schools

Board says NO to Charter Schools
School board members approved Resolution No. 12-2012 which opposes the passage of Initiative 1240 -- Charter Schools. Initiative 1240 (Charter Schools) will be on the the Nov. 6 General Election Ballot.

RESOLUTION #12-2012
October 2, 2012

RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE INITIATIVE 1240

WHEREAS, we believe publicly funded school districts, governed by an elected board of directors, are
the cornerstone of American democracy; and

WHEREAS, under the provisions of I-1240 the governing boards of some of the newly established
charter schools would be appointed rather than elected; and

WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 2 of our State Constitution states that the legislature shall provide for a
general and uniform system of public schools for all children living within Washingtons boundaries;
and

WHEREAS, I-1240 will establish a separate and unequal school system, in violation of Washingtons
constitutional provision requiring a general and uniform system of common schools (Article IX), by
exempting charter schools from most state laws and rules, while not providing the same flexibility to
currently existing public schools; and

WHEREAS, earlier this year the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the state was not meeting
its constitutional obligation to fully fund basic education; and

WHEREAS, charter schools, would take dollars away from existing school budgets, including local levy
dollars and federal allocations, at a time when public schools are already facing declining resources; and

WHEREAS, the privately operated, but publicly funded, charter schools created under I-1240 will only
serve a small part of Washingtons student population, providing no guarantee that students who are
struggling will have access to charter schools; and

WHEREAS, recent research has shown that only a small number of charter schools (17%) outperform
traditional public schools, and a much larger percentage (37%) performed significantly worse; and we
agree with the voters of Washington state who have defeated charter schools measures three times, that
the creation of publicly-funded private schools operated for a few students, is an unwise expenditure of
tax dollars.

THEREFORE, we, the undersigned members of the Walla Walla School Board of Directors, oppose the
passage of Initiative 1240.