[Durham INC] Clarifying Melissa's clarification

Tue Jan 31 22:55:46 EST 2012

Hello Melissa,  It's confusing, yes.  Let me see if I can explain better, if you could just do a better job of reading my mind! (smile)

The way the law was written, only non-profits based in NC can apply to to receive a contract (or "charter") from NC. 

I formed our non-profit in Aug. '96, shortly after the senate bill was 
passed into law.  Once you submit an application for a "charter" it 
becomes public record, and not unlike attorneys swarming around a car 
accident, the charter applicants are bombarded with various advertisements from for-profit businesses  who can come in to 
operate the school.    Healthy Start Academy opened in 
'97.  We hired the principle, teachers, etc. ourselves and as the first 
few years went by, Liz began to see the benefits and drawbacks of hiring an outside firm to hire/fire, etc.  

Liz was my vice-president and was also the founder of the League of Charter Schools, a state-wide non-profit that provides support for charter 
schools, 
http://dukechronicle.com/article/charter-schools-sue-dps-more-funding

Since she speaks with members of nearly every charter school in the state, it was a great way to find out which of the 'for-profit' businesses did 
the best job.  Healthy Start Education, Inc decided to apply for a 
second "charter", and when it was approved, decided to hire NHA to operate the school.  Liz Morey is the founder of Research Triangle Charter Academy.  

The people who are granted a "charter" get the money from the state to 
operate the school, and they choose how the school is run... they do it 
themselves or, as in the case of RTCA, they hire an outside business to hire/fire, etc, etc. 

Healthy Start Education, Inc operates Research Triangle Charter Academy.  They hired NHA to fulfill the charter.  You might speak with Liz Morey to get more information if my brief explanation hasn't cleared up the confusion.

 Christine Chamberlain

________________________________
 From: Nancy-Anne Potts <nmpotts at live.com>
To: fairfieldspeaksout at yahoogroups.com; inc-list at rtpnet.org 
Sent: Tuesday, 31 January 2012 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Durham INC] [FairfieldSpeaksOut] Fw: Anti-gay charter school in Chapel Hill

Melissa, 

Since you have forwarded this rather inflammatory email, I feel I must respond. 

My boys both attended RTCA which was run by National Heritage Academies so I have some familiarity with the company.  During the time we were associated with the school, I never experienced or heard of anything that would be construed as anti-gay.  The quote referred to the petition came from a 1999 article and I could find no evidence of lawsuits or anything other indication that it was ever any more than a personal opinion.  Given the quote and accusation has been around for over a decade, if it were policy I would have expected that proof would exist by now.  

With regards to the "creationism" -- that charge is baseless.   It has been floating around for over a decade and is based on a lawsuit brought about in the late '90's based on activities at one school and was thrown out of Federal Court in 2000.   I can say that my boys were NOT taught creationism at RTCA.    There was a "Moral Focus" curriculum that was based on the Greek virtues.  I will admit that I was skeptical at first about a "moral focus" curriculum that was not based on religion but was pleasantly surprised at well it was done WITHOUT religious overtones.    

With regards to National Heritage Academies being cookie cutter schools -- yes, they do use the same curriculum across schools.  Some teachers like that; others do not.    However I saw different teachers implement that curriculum in different ways.   As a parent, the curriculum was one of the reasons I chose RTCA.  At the time I enrolled my sons, Durham Public Schools did not have a standard curriculum for reading or math and I wanted a strong curriculum.  Others feel differently.  That is why I view choice as a good thing! As far as books in the library -- NHA provided a baseline set which at RTCA were then expanded based on the what the librarian chose to order and what was donated by parents.  Also RTCA took advantage of resources brought by its faculty.   It offered a phenomenal school band and orchestra program because the principal was a band
 director and amazingly talented music teacher.  That was not cookie cutter. 

While I would never claim that National Heritage was perfect, overall I feel that my boys got a good education at RTCA and that the material contained in the petition is essentially a rehash of accusations that have been around for over a decade and do not have a basis in fact. 

Nancy-Anne 

When everything seems upside down, stand on your head!    

________________________________
 To: inc-list at rtpnet.org
From: mmr121570 at yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:53:30 -0800
Subject: [FairfieldSpeaksOut] Fw: Anti-gay charter school in Chapel Hill

I received this information today and thought I would notify those on the neighborhood listservs about it. Just FYI. Feel free to do your own research -- I'm certainly interested in any discussion regarding this issue.

Melissa (Rooney)

----- Forwarded Message -----
Sent: Monday, 30 January 2012 12:54 PM
Subject: Anti-gay charter school in Chapel Hill

Please sign this petition to tell the NC Board of Ed. not to approve a new, for-profit charter school to be opened in Chapel Hill. It's part of a corporate charter corporation called Nat'l Heritage Academies. Based in Michigan, the NHA do not believe homosexuals should be allowed to teach children, and they stand to siphon $4.5 million from the local school system!

http://www.change.org/petitions/mr-william-harrison-and-the-north-carolina-state-board-of-education-vote-no-for-the-howard-lillian-lee-scholars-charter-school

This is a FOR-profit private corporation that takes our tax dollars and makes a profit on our children. It is a barely disguised faith-based, right-wing, corporation, already sued in Michigan by the ACLU for having religious activities in schools. They teach evolution based on the Bible "creation story" as well as on Darwinism. Teachers are paid less; schools are cookie-cutter down to the books in the libraries. Howard and Lillian Lee deserve better than this.

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