[Durham INC] Clarifying Melissa's clarification

Wed Feb 1 07:52:22 EST 2012

Interesting. How does a person/community distinguish between these two 
situations: 1) a group of local citizens banding together to form a 
charter school, then seeking out a 'for-profit' firm to run it; and, 2) 
a 'for-profit' firm seeking to open franchises, and, as a part of doing 
business, seeking out a local franchisee to submit the paperwork?

In my mind these are two very different situations with very different 
primary motivations.

Thanks,
Will Wilson

On 1/31/2012 10:55 PM, Christine Chamberlain wrote:
> 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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