Former School Board Chairs Criticize Charter School Bill
CHARLOTTE, NC – Sharp criticism from former school board members as House Bill 514 comes closer to becoming law. The legislation would allow the towns of Matthews, Mint Hill, Huntersville, and Cornelius to open their own charter schools.
βWeβre going to do what we need to do to stop this.Β This is institutional racism,” said former CMS board chair Arthur Griffin.
He and others didn’t hold back, voicing their opposition to the bill.
βIt is about race.Β It is about economic division and class,” said school board memberΒ Ericka Ellis-Stewart.
The former school board members who spoke out argue the bill would segregate communities along racial and class lines.
βWe canβt sit idly and have legislators think for one second that we are not paying attention and that we donβt know what theyβre doing,” says former school board chair Wilhelmina Rembert.
Tensions are growing between CMS and the towns that support the legislation. Leaders from the towns involved say they’re frustrated about overcrowding and want more control of their local schools.
βI think options are sometimes are going to help quality.Β If you have two people that can do the job well, they have to bid a little bit tighter to get your business,” says Huntersville Town Commissioner Mark Gibbons.
Gibbons argues more competition would only improve CMS and rejects the notion charter schools would lead to segregation.
βI think thatβs an unfortunate part of a conversation that is there to stir and rile people up but I just donβt see that,” Gibbons says.
Opponents, though, argue the process needs to slow down.
βThis legislation is unsettled.Β We have not thought about the consequences it will have on our children.Β We have not thought deeply about the level of division it will create,” Ellis-Stewart says.
