Parents who want alternative to our schools should pay for private school themselves | OPINION

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Contributed commentary by Lucy Frugé, a CMCSS mom.

As a mother to seven children, I have personally kept up to date on the decision from the board (Clarksville-Montgomery County denies charter school). The questions (Aron) Maberry wanted answered during the meeting were out of form for the meeting. It was stated he had an entire week to present the questions he had that would be answered and published for the public to see.

Mr. Maberry didn’t seem to understand that the questions and answers would be available to the public. The board meeting can only handle so much and has limited time to get through the agenda. When a board member doesn’t follow the form, it makes it difficult for the other members to stay on the agenda and conclude at the appropriate time.

As far as the charter school goes, only 7,000 across the state have stated they’re in support of this type of school. CMCSS is severely underfunded; taking more funding for a private school seems way out of line. If there are families that want this type of education for their students, they should seek it out and pay for the private school of their choice. No one is standing in their way of choosing what is best for their families. Our schools are absolutely overcrowded, but with underfunding already a major issue, this is not how we support the school system the way all of CMCSS deserves. We need options that help the schools that are here now so that all students in CMCSS have the opportunities they deserve. Redirecting the limited funding from the schools that already exist so that a private school can be established is not the way to strengthen the educational opportunities for our students within the public school system.

I have to wonder with such a specific curriculum, who stands to benefit from this charter school? Only 74 families in the CMCSS district want this charter school; the thousands of families that are not in support of this school need their voices heard as well.

Lucy Frugé

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