They drain money from the schools. They don't face stringent enough accountability measures. And they're often immune to local control. That's the view many Cincinnati Public Schools administrators have of community, or charter, schools.
But with one community school approved in Cincinnati and another possibly on the way, district officials are hurrying to devise policies to deal with the public, independent schools.
"There are a lot of questions we have about community schools that state law doesn't seem to answer," school board member Sally Warner said. "That can create major problems for us."
Ohio's community schools law passed last summer, the result of lawmakers' aims to offer more choice and accountability in public education.
Under the law, community schools must be sponsored by the state or local board of education. The sponsor and the community school negotiate a contract addressing such issues as teacher certification, curriculum, student performance standards, admission and dismissal policies and financial planning.
CPS officials' known skepticism of community schools has prompted some -- like Pauline Ach, founder of Oak Tree Montessori, Hamilton County's first community school, and David Nordyke, whose Avondale community school proposal is up for state approval -- to bypass the local board and present plans directly to the state.
That worries CPS leaders, who say the state is too free in its approvals. The state to date hasn't rejected any of the 10 proposals it has heard, Ohio Department of Education spokeswoman Stacie Lawell confirmed.
Ms. Warner cited the case of Ishton Morton, a former CPS vocational education teacher who runs an after-school program in Bond Hill. Mr. Morton asked board members in May to lease him two district buildings to start a vocational education high school and a K-12 math and science school.
But it didn't take long for district Business Executive Steven Ottemann to send a brief rejection letter. Mr. Morton's name prompts plenty of frustrated sighs among administrators, who hint at a history of turmoil with the district.
According to his thick personnel file, he has lodged several grievances against the district related to pay and contract issues.
His contract was not renewed in 1988 for performance, and he has repeatedly, unsuccessfully tried to get a teaching job in the district since the early 1990s. During his 11-year stint in CPS, he once was chastised for striking a misbehaving student.
"We rejected his (community school) proposal; but with the state's record of approval, how long do you think it will be before he opens a school in the district?" Ms. Warner said.
Mr. Morton defended his record, saying several administrators unfairly labeled him a troublemaker. In fact, his personnel file includes favorable reviews citing his good rapport with students, as well as praise-filled references (accompanying his job applications) from other educators and community leaders.
And Ms. Lawell insisted the state wouldn't approve a plan that raised concerns about an educator's qualifications.
But board members have other worries:
Communication. The law isn't clear on what relationship a community school and its home district should have, they say.
In CPS, that means problems in terms of transportation, Ms. Warner said. The district's deadline to guarantee students bus service is mid-July, and the home district is required to provide community school students with transportation.
But officials say they haven't communicated with Ms. Ach or Mr. Nordyke about transportation.
Accountability. Because the state typically approves community schools, local districts have no control over their governance.
Finances. School board members are considering charging people to present community school proposals, which district administrators would have to review.
Board members have directed district Counsel John Concannon, Treasurer Richard Gardner and Legislative Liaison Ray Finke to investigate their questions. A report is due at the board's July 15 meeting.
But community school proponents question their concerns.
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"Is their phone disconnected?" Mr. Nordyke said, referring to their communication complaints.
"I don't think Pauline or myself have stayed up nights thinking of ways to inconvenience the district. A system like Cincinnati should be suggesting solutions rather than whining about problems. Instead of saying this is another burden the state has dumped on us, they should say this is another way to service a child."
Some say such strife highlights the district's need to move quickly.
"We have Montessori programs; and we know there's more demand for Montessori programs, but we're not adding new Montessori programs. We need to learn a lesson here and be as responsive as we can to customer demand," said Tom Mooney, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers president. "This woman (Ms. Ach) is only picking the low-lying, ripe fruit off the tree."
Board President Arthur Hull conceded. But he said the district doesn't have time to open new schools with a new superintendent arriving next month and a strategic plan to implement.
"I believe that we must get more market-oriented at CPS, more sensitive to the needs and demands of parents," Mr. Hull said. "But with the load we already have, we're not personally going to initiate" community schools.
