Woodland letter missed important facts

In his March 30 letter, "Charter school should be local decision," Mark Scales got virtually everything incorrect. The actual facts of the situation are just the opposite.

First, Woodland's board is suing the charter school and the Illinois Charter School Committee located in Cook County, thus the location of the court with jurisdiction.

Next, it's Woodland's business because PCCS diverts $3.5 million of the $4.5 million in state aid designated for Woodland. The aid is formulated on District 50's demographic makeup, 31 percent low-income/at-risk while PCCS's student body is only 0.5 percent low-income/at-risk.

PCCS does not serve a "local community." It is state-required to serve all of both Districts 50 and 79. If local control is what Mr. Scales desires, then his support should be with the districts which serve only half the area PCCS does.

Furthermore, PCCS is beholden to a state board not a local district board. Both district schools provide bus service to their students, yet PCCS turned down bus service at the time of its founding even though it covers twice the area of either local district.

One can only wonder why this was, given that it has the effect of making it difficult for low-income parents to get their children to and from the school on their own, especially if working two or more jobs or unable to afford a vehicle, etc.

Next, the lawsuit contends it is the charter school, not the district, which has failed to raise its level of low-income students. Indeed, this is what the state committee found and ordered PCCS to correct in its prior renewal. PCCS did not, yet the committee still renewed its charter even though the order wasn't followed.

Therefore Woodland sued. Indeed, this is about local control and class warfare, Mr. Scales. You just has the parties reversed.

John Kauck

Grayslake