Last week, the Monongalia and Preston counties’ Boards of Education denied applications for a charter school. Had it been approved, West Virginia Academy would have been located in Mon County but would have served northern Preston County as well. We have confidence in our local school boards, and we trust their decision is in the best interest of our students.
The perpetual sticking point is that charters receive public funding without being held to the same standards as public schools. Charter schools can pick and choose whom they accept, and instructors do not have to be certified educators, and money diverted to a charter school is money taken away from public schools.
In the specific case of West Virginia Academy, the charter school’s application failed on the merits. It flunked seven of 10 state-established benchmarks, including but not limited to its mission, operation plan, enrollment approach and general education program. The academy’s creators, John and Heidi Treu, cried foul, claiming there was a “conflict of interest” because the application was reviewed by the superintendent and district administrators. But those same people are the ones who have their boots on the ground and understand what Mon County schools and students need.
If the West Virginia Academy application wasn’t up to snuff, then perhaps the Treus should try again. Make changes and apply again next year. Or, if they truly believe that the plans they have in place for the academy are good enough, then the Treus should consider opening the academy as a private school instead of a charter school.
This would require a large up-front investment, but loans are available and during the age of COVID, the Treus may be able to secure a low-interest loan because they are essentially starting up a business. They’ll have to decide what they want to charge for tuition, which should balance what families can reasonably afford to pay and how much revenue will need to be brought in to keep the school afloat. The downside to a private school, of course, is that the cost can make it inaccessible to some people, but the academy can always offer scholarships or reduced tuition to help lower-income students to attend.
Unfortunately, the new West Virginia charter school laws don’t allow private schools to be converted to charter schools. However, if the Treus can prove themselves with a successful private school, any future applications for charter schools would less likely be denied.
At the moment, West Virginia Academy and the Mon County Board of Education seem to be at an impasse. The BOE members — and many teachers and parents — don’t see a need for a charter school. Or, at least, the need is not great enough to justify diverting money from the existing public schools. The Treus and their supporters think Mon and Preston students need the educational opportunities the academy can offer. So, to paraphrase Field of Dreams: If you build it, they will come. If our area really needs the Treus’ school, then students will find a way there, regardless if it’s a charter or a private school.
