Voyager Charter School Plans To Appeal GV's Denial

CountyPressOnline ^ | 02/20/2003 | Matt Hasson

[Tribune7]

Voyager Charter School Plans To Appeal GV's Denial

By Matt Hasson 02/20/2003

Voyager Charter School officials plan to appeal the Garnet Valley School Board's denial of their application, founder and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shay said, Feb. 11.

Shay did not indicate when Voyager intends to file an appeal. The school board, Feb. 10, voted unanimously to deny the application, basing its decision on what is called gaps and inconsistencies in the proposal. The board held a charter school hearing on Dec. 2 and Jan. 14.

[Tribune7]

This bugged me. I'm a big proponent of school choice. While charter schools are not school choice they are a big improvement over the NEA-controlled teaching establishment. Especially in Pennsylvania where striking teachers cannot be fired.

[Tribune7]

Ping

[Tribune7]

Garnet Valley is in Delaware County, Pa. on the Delaware border. It consists of the municipalities of Concord, Chester Heights and Bethel. Post offices in the the district -- addresses are better known -- include Glen Mills, Boothwyn (albeit not the main part;) Concordville and Chadds Ford (again not the main part.)

ping

[Tribune7]

I'll ping you too since this is an education issue.

[Temple Owl]

I'm a big proponent of school choice.

I am also in favor of school choice. I am familiar with the Garnet Valley School District. It is one of the best in Pennsylvania. However, competition is good. We need school choice and vouchers.

[summer]

The article didn't give a reason for the board's rejection of the application. The charter school would have served gifted students, so - maybe someone in the school district did not want those gifted students (and higher test scores) exiting the schools currently attended by those students.

[Tribune7]

Maybe. But my suspicion is the administration didn't want to give up power, the union didn't want to give up jobs and potential dues and the school board just did what they were told by these forces.