Adults weren’t the only ones locked out of the illegal meeting where commissioners heard their staff plot to manipulate lawmakers to skirt the law and close our schools.
Debbie Critchfield, president of the Idaho state Board of Education, has sent out a guest opinion about the recent controversy over comments made in a closed-door executive session of the Public Charter School Commission. Here is her full article posted by Betsy Russell, Idaho Press
By Debbie Critchfield
State of Idaho
"Many have weighed in regarding the oversight and function of the Idaho Public Charter School Commission (PCSC) in light of recent news pertaining to the Commission’s discussions in executive session that were recorded and released. Executive sessions are authorized under the Idaho open meeting law to provide for non-public discussion of a limited number of subjects such as student education records with personally identifiable information in order to protect student privacy. Executive sessions are not held in public and are not typically recorded. No action or final decision may be made in executive session."
"The particular executive session held last spring was unknowingly recorded and mistakenly released in response to a public record request under Idaho’s public record law. Unfortunately, there were comments made during these discussions that were demeaning to individual charter schools and the communities they serve. The Idaho State Board of Education is fully aware of the situation. As a matter of governance, the State Board oversees the Commission’s work. Commission positions are appointed by either the Governor, Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives, or the President Pro Tem of the Idaho Senate. The PCSC staff report to the Board’s executive director."
"The mission of the Public Charter School Commission is to ensure that “authorized public charter schools comply with Idaho statute, protecting student and public interests by balancing high standards of accountability with respect for autonomy of public charter schools and implementing best authorizing practices to ensure excellence of public charter school options available to Idaho families.” The PCSC authorizes 73 percent of charter schools in Idaho. Others are authorized by school district boards of trustees."
"As Board President, I will not make excuses for comments that disparage individuals, schools or communities. Critical discussions do need to take place in executive session in order to protect student privacy as required by state and federal law. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office is investigating complaints made regarding the Commission’s executive session. Regardless of whether there was a violation of the open meeting law, discussions must be respectful and constructive in order for all of us to work toward our common goal of improving public education in Idaho."
"My hope is that this incident will not diminish or overshadow the critical work of the Commission. As the authorizer of nearly three-quarters of all public charter schools, the Commission’s role is vitally important not only for charter school students and families, but for Idaho taxpayers as well. When schools are underperforming, the Commission must work with the schools to correct problems."
"Moving forward, the Commission members and staff will receive training about Idaho’s open meeting law and how to have appropriate discussions about school performance, student data and education quality. I also hope to have conversations with parents within the charter school community to help rebuild trust."
"The Public Charter School Commission plays an important role to ensure a quality education for the students under its charge. This role is carried out through the authorization of charter schools – a process defined in state law. The Commission does not exist to advocate for charter schools, nor to denigrate them. I sincerely hope that this episode will not diminish that role or cause people to lose faith in public charter schools or use it as a reason to attack the whole system. It is also my hope that we use this an opportunity to improve our communication, whether in public or behind closed doors."
Betsy Z. Russell is the Boise bureau chief and state capitol reporter for the Idaho Press and Adams Publishing Group. Follow her on Twitter at @BetsyZRussell.
You’ve seen the news (if not, click here). The Idaho State Commission that oversees 2/3 of Charter Schools was caught on tape plotting to skirt the law and decrease our access to charters- all of this while locking out the public in a secret meeting the Governor says was "probably illegal". We can’t let this happen. So, we need your help.
There are 3 EASY actions you can take RIGHT NOW to help us, help all of you: CALL. WRITE. SHOW UP.
CALL
Will you spend 2 minutes on your cell phone? As a parent and supporter of school choice, we need you to call the Governor and tell him to protect your access to Charter and Virtual schools! He's right the meeting was illegal, but it's the CONTENT of the meeting that's disturbing. The schools are afraid to speak up, so it's up to us to stand up for students, teachers, administrators, and school boards. Here’s the Governor's phone number: 208-334-2100
WRITE
Will you write a letter to lawmakers and send a copy to the local newspaper and tell them why you chose a charter school or virtual school for your loved one? We need you to do this today! Click Here to send an email or Click here for your lawmakers mailing address. Send a copy to idahopso@gmail.com so we can use it as an example of support!
SHOW UP
Can you come to a Town Hall meeting next week in Twin Falls to tell the top leaders of the legislature that it’s parents who decide the best education fit for their child? It’s a town hall and they will listen when you speak. RSVP on Facebook details HERE or RSVP via email here: IdahoPSO@gmail.com (July 24, 6 PM)
Will you come to the first State Charter Commission meeting since the scandal broke and show your support for school choice? It’s in August. We need you there. Details Here. RSVP on Facebook here.
Full illegal meeting audio and transcript on our website.
Tom LeClaire, Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families Response to Gov. Little's Comments on Illegal Meeting
“I believe Governor Little knows it's both a matter of legality, but also trust. How can Idaho's charter schools -- the boards, educators, and parents -- trust that the Commission and its staff will be honest and impartial? Trust can only be restored if those who said these hurtful, biased and wrong statements during this illegal executive session resign and are replaced by new public officials who are committed to supporting our charter schools and families. I believe Governor Little is a good man and will do the right thing.”
-Tom LeClaire, President, Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families.
FULL AUDIO AND TRANSCRIPT of ILLEGAL MEETING HERE
ARTICLE: Little: Charter Commission's Closed- Door Meeting was Probably Illegal
Time mark in recording:
1:45 - Executive session called for to review individual student testing data – Commissioners asked not to take notes because they will be looking at student level data. Baysigner says, “We don’t want anything to walk out of the door.”
2:35 – Baysinger states that the commission is working with five schools in crisis
3:45 – Begins review and discussion of schools under conditional review from the commission.
13:30 – Discussion of Idaho Science and Technology Charter School in Blackfoot
Low math tests scores
Financial situation of this school is in poor shape
15:15 – North Valley Academy in Gooding
Comments generally positive about this school and its leadership
29:30 – The Village Charter School
Employee of the commission claims that a math teacher did not know how to do math properly at the school
37:10 - Bingham Academy (Blackfoot)
School Received STEM Certification
School seems to be making progress
Contract issues
Time off given to a math teacher, who is related to a commission member, due to a family illness
40:35 - Heritage Academy (Jerome)
Poor academic performance as measured by ISAT, lower than poorly performing school district around them
At 45:30 Commission President, Alan Reed states, “What do we do as a society with that town (Jerome, ID)?”
Reed, joking about the possibility of opening up one of his businesses ice crème shops in Jerome says, “Ice crème doesn’t make brain cells.”
47:00 – Reed and commission discussing how bad the school district, and the charter school in Jerome are. Reed adds at 47:00, “What do we do with that school? These kids are in trouble, they have no future.”
48:30 A good deal of critical remarks during the exchange between the commissioners about Heritage Academy’s administrator is not doing a good job, and has caused problems at three other charter schools.
49:20 A party in the meeting states, “(Heritage Academy) does not believe their kids can make it.”
52:10 Heritage Academy board is, “a rubber stamp for Christine Ivey (the school’s administrator).
52:40 – “Its (Heritage Academy) board is like the Village’s board, who wants to find someone who will tell them what they want to hear.”
53:00 – “(Heritage) President is vacant on the board.” Note: Vacant here does not seem to refer to the post being vacant, rather it is comment regarding a lack of leadership from the board chair.
56:00 – A comment is made by the Commission executive director Tamara Baysinger that the commission should look at factors other than the legal ones when considering a school’s charter renewal.
Overall, the commissioners seem to agree that the best course of action would be close Heritage Academy in Jerome.
Syringa Mountain Charter School in Hailey
1:04 – Baysinger shares, regarding the board that is “laisseze faire.” They don’t seem care about academic achievement
Financial issues related to the school are discussed
Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA) Discussion
1:09 Commission President Alan Reed says, “I was a little frustrated with the ISBA.”
Commissioner Bair sharing her frustration, referring to the ISBA, “After 20 years, no thank you.”
1:09:22 – Reed, seems to express that feels the organization is dishonest when he adds, “Come on ISBA, tell the truth.”
Blackfoot Charter Community Learning Center (BCCLC) Blackfoot
1:09:45 – Referring to the board of BCCLC, Baysigner says, “No one of reasonable intelligence could be on a board they are not being misinformed.”
1:09:50 – Commission Bair, “I feel the moment someone felt misinformed they were replaced.”
1:09:55 – Baysinger – “That is what happened.”
McCall Charter School –
1:12:50 – Critical that Lori Otter, then first lady, wrote a letter of support for the school.
Discussion of financial issues related to school
1:14:10 – Comment made which is critical of homeschoolers in Idaho
1:15:30 – Discussion of planning regarding closing schools (Participants include Baysinger and Bair)
1:21:50 – Discussion of enrollment sizes of schools (Scigliano and Baysigner)
1:22:30 – Critical discussion and comments regarding Idaho Career and Technical Education agency
1:25:00 – Discussion of online verses onsite enrollment at schools
1:30:30 – Discussion regarding closing online virtual high schools
1:35:10 – Discussion regarding the preparation and groundwork for closing charter schools, described by one participant in the meeting as “next steps.”
1:43:00 – Comments made that legislators lack of basic understanding of educational data
1:44:28 – Criticism of State Board of Education not getting commission the data need
1:45:30 – Fear expressed regarding how parents, governor’s office, and legislature will react to closings
1:47:50 – It seems a staff member (Jenn Thompson) suggested to the commission that they were outside the scope of executive session. At this point the executive session ended. Although, President Alan Reed expressed a desire to continue the discussion
Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families — We trust parents!
