Pub. 4 2014-2015 Issue 2

5 T oday I spent a couple hours visiting with Sen. Jim Dabakis at Salt Lake’s City Academy. Sen. Dabakis had not visited a charter school before, so we had a great opportunity to introduce him to City Academy’s wonderful director, Dr. Sonia Woodbury, a few City Academy teachers and several bright students. We are About a Critical Work Sen. Dabakis had a host of questions about the differences and similarities between district schools and charter schools. Dr. Woodbury and I helped to dispel many of the myths about charter schools. Yes, charter schools offer special education just like school districts. No, charter schools can’t charge tuition. Yes, charter schools receive less money per student than the average school district. When a few City Academy students joined us, Sen. Dabakis peppered them with questions, too. They explained that City Academy gives each of them the space to be individual, and that the cliques they’d seen in their respective district schools weren’t so prevalent. The students were thoughtful, willing to speak their mind and humble enough to acknowledge when they didn’t know how to answer Sen. Dabakis’ questions. Every week I visit charter schools around this state. The directors, teachers and students make each charter school different from every other one. And yet I can’t help but be thrilled by the excitement at all of the charter schools I visit. We are about a critical work. We are preparing today’s children and youth for the academic, business and service challenges of tomorrow. I can’t imagine a more important or rewarding task. Thank you for all that you do! BY ROYCE VAN TASSELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UAPCS