Posted by: southsiderMMX Aug 5 2011, 07:40 AM
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/article_c6a2c41b-2405-54af-a5bc-8ba8f4dd2122.html
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Region lacks representation -- so far -- on new seven-member state charter school board
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By Dan Carden dan.carden@nwi.com, (317) 637-9078 | Posted: Thursday, August 4, 2011 12:00 pm | (4) Comments
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INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana may be shut out of a new state board that has the power to establish charter schools, despite the popularity of charter schools in the region.
None of the four already named members of the Indiana Charter School Board hail from Northwest Indiana; two are from Fort Wayne, one is from Evansville and the other from Ellettsville, near Bloomington.
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels has yet to name his two selections for the seven-member board, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, is expected to reveal his pick later this month.
The other appointments were each made by Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne; Senate Democratic Leader Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville; House Democratic Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend; and Republican State Superintendent Tony Bennett.
Charter schools have been especially popular in Gary, with about 25 percent of city schoolchildren attending a charter school.
The Indiana Charter School Board was created earlier this year in legislation intended to speed the establishment of charter schools by adding another entity to authorize new charter schools, which are taxpayer-funded but exempt from most state education mandates.
Previously only Ball State University and the mayor of Indianapolis could authorize charter schools.
Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/article_c6a2c41b-2405-54af-a5bc-8ba8f4dd2122.html#ixzz1UA5DPxN6
Posted by: southsiderMMX Sep 14 2011, 11:58 AM
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_2f62c9e1-c452-5a2b-8a4c-448fb23b6123.html
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INDIANAPOLIS | The executive director of the Indiana Charter Schools Board on Wednesday insisted Northwest Indiana will not be overlooked even though the region lacks representation on the board.
"I think there is a very well-qualified, diverse group of individuals on the board, and they understand that their charge is statewide," said Claire Fiddian-Green, of Indianapolis.
A 2011 state law created the board and gave it power to open new charter schools. Previously, only Ball State University and the mayor of Indianapolis could establish the publicly funded schools that are exempt from most state education rules.
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, Republican State Superintendent Tony Bennett and the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Indiana House and Senate selected the seven-member board, none of whom hail from Northwest Indiana, home to 20 percent of the state's charter schools.
Fiddian-Green said she plans to visit the region in October to "have a better feel for the landscape up there.
"I'm very interested in going up to learn about that area and its needs," she said.
Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_2f62c9e1-c452-5a2b-8a4c-448fb23b6123.html#ixzz1Xx162AMX