Christina School District Board of Education member John Young asked if he could submit a guest post regarding the current Newark Charter School/5 Mile Radius/HS1 for House Bill #85 skirmish. Young is writing this as a citizen and is not speaking for the Christina Board of Education.
There has been a ton of conjecture flying around about multiple legislators and their motives this past week centered around HB85 and its spawn: HS1 for HB85. The original bill sponsored by Reps. Williams, Kowalko, and Sen. Sokola et. al. The substitute only by Rep. Williams and Sen. Sokola, et.al. There has been extreme reaction to this bill here in Delaware with lots of people taking stark, sharp positions. Here’s the reality: 22 years of fighting against the wrongheaded approach with direct assaults has been essentially 100% ineffective. Rep. Kim Williams has cobbled together a band of legislators willing to make a small inroad against the charter cabal, led by Senator David Sokola and his charter loving elitists. Would I, if asked, want to work with Senator David Sokola on education knowing his penchant for attacking traditional public education with a track record replete with defense of de facto segregation? Nope. I wouldn’t. I’ve heard too may stories of Senator Sokola treating colleagues poorly when his pet programs are threatened.
That said, Rep. Kim Williams is a different breed. Unlike many of her colleagues, she puts students first. Is this bill perfect? Heck no! Who would be the first person to agree with that statement? Rep. Kim Williams! I suspect Rep. Williams has worked super hard to get multiple legislators to support HS1 for HB85, not based on their understanding of how this bill impacts kids, but based on their trust and respect for her. That’s how it works in Dover. That’s not an endorsement of how it ought to be, just an acknowledgement of how it is. With that said, I think some of the rhetoric on this bill may jeopardize future successes on other bills if we’re not careful with our over-demonizing. Am I happy that an AG ruling is being sought? Sure. Other than Rep. John Kowalko on that request, are those seeking the ruling leaders on education like Rep. Williams? Not even close. We need to remember that.
I do not envy Rep. Williams position, but I admire her willingness to work within her own party to bridge the divides that SHOULD NOT EVEN EXIST, but because they do they must be confronted in a different way than if Mr. Sokola was in the party he acts like he belongs to on education, the GOP.
Just curious. Where did John end up sending his son to school? I know he was looking into charter schools, just wondering how it all worked out for their family. Best wishes.
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My son attends Christiana High School. He was offered admittance to Gateway Charter School, but got in well after the lottery and we had already re-committed to Shue-Medill Middle which was great
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I’m sincere when I say I’m glad to hear it worked out well. I’ve always wished you and your family well. But just wanted it to be known that you aren’t against charter schools. Thank you.
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This needed to be said. All of it. If you feel the same way about Dave Sokola and his scandalous, irrational support for inequity and his lack of mea culpa the role his legislation for charter and choice have played in further segregating schools and harming our children, come out tonight and tell him to his face at Newark High School 7 pm.
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Dave actually made a comment tonight how he never got a thank you note for all the revenue bills he helped get through in the General Assembly…
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The next time Senator Sokola does something for the students in CSD, his area, will be the first from my vantage point. Thank you note…sheesh. Imagine if unpaid public officials got thank you notes for putting up with the pure crap flowing out of Leg Hall….my spare bedroom would be full to the ceiling!
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