To Keep Unions Out, Charter Argues It's Not a Public School

[proud2BlibKansan]

A Philadelphia charter school fighting a unionizing effort is trying to break legal ground by contending that it is not a public school—even though it's funded entirely by taxpayers.

The move by New Media Technology Charter School, which receives more than $5 million in public money annually to educate 450 students, is drawn from the playbook of a charter in Chicago that is part of a controversial network of Turkish-run charter schools.

The Chicago Mathematics and Science Academy Charter School—one of 120 schools nationwide inspired by the teachings of Turkish imam Fethullah Gulen—asserted in papers filed with the National Labor Relations Board that it is not a public school or "a political subdivision" of the state of Illinois. If it prevails, it would be exempt from a state law that permits charter staff to unionize.

The full NLRB has not ruled on the matter, though the school lost a preliminary round when the regional director ruled that it was a public school overseen by the Chicago school district.

more . . . http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/07/05/36mct_pacharter.h30.html?tkn=WSUFOq0XHJpuNtvJHkXHN6lVu%2BXJB1Y%2BFlWN&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

[geardaddy]

1. Then they can kiss their taxpayer funds goodbye.

[progressoid]

6. +1

[freshwest]

11. I keep telling people that it's all taxpayer money and needs oversight, but they won't listen.

[ret5hd]

2. Is there a state law that prohibits employees of a private company from unionizing?

No? I didn't think so.

So what gives here?

[freshwest]

10. Good point, but it won't fly. Logic and reason defy their belief systems.

[LiberalFighter]

15. Exactly, if it is a government entity then it is covered under state law.

If if is a private enterprise then it is the NLRA and state law has no say in the matter.

[ret5hd]

16. That's what I was thinking. So what gives?

[Starry Messenger]

3. Well they aren't public schools.

Nice for them to finally admit it.

[RebelOne]

5. My daughter is a teacher in a charter school in South Florida

and she has always said that her charter school is not part of the public school system.

[theaocp]

8. Ask her how much they charge for tuition. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

9. Our Education Secretary says that they are public all of the time.

That's interesting what your daughter says. It's been a fairly common marketing talking point that charter schools are public, and that public schools teachers are just abnormally prejudiced against them.

[xchrom]

4. ...

:mad:

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R

[Angry Dragon]

12. That is $11,111/yr/student ........ is that out of line??

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Not at all

Pretty average in fact.

[Angry Dragon]

14. okay

[jmowreader]

17. It's NOT a public school!

It is a private school the government pays to run.

Just like the government has no say in the way Corrections Corporation of America runs the jails the taxpayer is paying them to operate, the government has no say in the way the charter school companies run the schools the taxpayer is paying them to operate.

Which is why both private prisons and charter schools should be abolished.

[defendandprotect]

18. k