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Parents do have a choice about THEIR tax dollars - move somewhere else! The amount of tax dollars required to fund per pupil expenditures in this county far exceed what the normal, average household pays in property and sales taxes. That means it is not only THEIR tax dollars that are going to support charter schools but also MY tax dollars and the tax dollars of people who do not even have children in the public school system.

I do not refute the test scores from Fort Craig. They are good. However, as with everything dealing with education, it is about parent involvement. That is why the Kovalik/ITI model does not work well in low socio-economic schools. The research supports this this.

I totally agree with the problems associated with No Child Left Behind. However, taking money away from schools that are doing the job is absolutely NOT the answer. That is what a suburban charter school in Blount County would do.

I would be interested in the entrance requirements for the proposed suburban charter school? If it is truly to be a PUBLIC school, there should be NOT entrance requirements and ANY child, of ANY ability, from ANY socio-economic background should be allowed to attend. Of course this would never happen in a suburban charter school.

As stated before, this is a way for a few unhappy parents to reap all the benefits of a private education without paying for it. If public education in Blount County, Alcoa, and Maryville City is all that bad, then why keep your child enrolled there? I am sure The Webb School of Knoxville, CAK, Maryville Christian School, or any other number of private schools would be more than happy to look at new applications.