I almost didn’t read totay’s Opinion collumn “Keeping Duluth’s wetlands intact should be a priority.”
I’m glad I did. It turned out to be almost as critical of the Edison Schools as it was an argument to preserve Duluth’s wetlands.
Columnist Sellner made a good case for preserving wetlands and hitched a ride onto Rep. Simonson’s tails by pointing an accusing finger. That finger pointed ostensibly at Pacific Companies the buyer and developer of the land surrounding Northstar Academy. That finger could have been pointed at the City as well for allowing the sale to go through but it was the Edison schools which took the biggest hit. Ms. Sellner wondered about Edison’s “business model.”
She contended that Charters were freed from many rules which apply to other public schools. Yes, this was one of the original ideas behind Charters but in my experience I’ve seen relatively few rules from which Edison has been exempted. Their kids take all the same tests, and they have to meet most of the same standards required of other public schools. What they don’t have is a teacher’s union. I suspect some Minnesota Charters do have unions but that’s just a guess on my part. There is no reason why they couldn’t operate with one.
I think the issue of charters should be separated from the question of wetlands. It just confuses the environmental issue that Linda Ross Sellner is concerned about.
