Currently NC Charter Schools are run by 501(3)c nonprofit corporations that receive federal and state funding. There is oversight by the NC Charter School Advisory Board but the ability to enforce laws or correct wrongdoing amounts to nothing more than a “slap on the wrist”. 

Many Charter School Boards around NC have Bylaws that allow Board members to have continual terms, vote each other back in, and functionally consolidate power and governance to a few people.  There is no accountability to the stakeholders (students and parents).  

Look at what has happened at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy where Board Members, hostile to the vision of the founder and Headmaster Joe Maimone, forced his resignation just before school started. It is a Board that has operated in secrecy with Committees not open to the public and in Closed Sessions. Headed by lawyer David Hostetler of Lex-is Services of Durham, they have numerous public record violations by demanding $1000 to view or copy any public record. FaceBook Transparency For-TJCA

 The Charter School legislation needs the following changes in order for schools to be successful and use public funds for the benefit of students ONLY. This petition will be sent to several NC state senators and representatives, including Speaker Tim Moore.

1) Term limits 

2) Parents elect Board members

3) Teacher Members (1 or 2) voted on by teachers.

4) Parents may remove members of the Board by 2/3 vote of the parents.

5) Charter school Boards are held to the same conflict of interest policies and penalties as traditional school Boards

6) A Judicial Board would be established under the Charter School Advisory Board Director that would have the authority to discipline and remove Board Members who violate the Charter, County laws, State laws, or Federal laws.