Letter to the school board

To the editor:

Eight years ago my family moved to Palmer and won the educational lottery — our children got into Academy Charter School. Since then, I have seen my children excel not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. You see, not only are the test scores from Academy the highest in the Valley, but also the parents and staff foster a culture of community caring.

Given all the good this, and other charter schools provide to our community, I cannot understand why you would want to break something that is working so beautifully. And yet, clearly that is your goal.

I was aghast by the tenor of the school board meetings this summer. It was clear to all present that this school board has an agenda that is not supportive of the Valley charter schools. Your recent last minute “Charter Work Session” meeting, held far away from the majority of those affected, is an obvious attempt to ramrod said agenda, away from the public eye.

Perhaps I am naïve, part of me wants to believe you will do the right thing and stop this move to mediocrity. However, I am also a realist.

Therefore, I implore you to set aside your prejudice and support the four Valley charter schools, their families and students.

As your constituent, a Valley taxpayer and a super voter, I do not want you to impose Anchorage School District policies on my local schools. I, like many of my fellow charter school parents, will be paying close attention to how you proceed from here.

Julie Real

Palmer