School Board Orders Firm to Fix Problems at Charter School

School board members have given Edison Schools Inc. 90 days to fix problems that critics claim exist at the city’s only for-profit school.

The board’s 6-1 vote late Tuesday followed the release of a district investigation launched about a month ago, following complaints by parents, students and teachers.

But Edison has said the real problem is that some people do not approve of having a private company run a public school. Gaynor McCown, senior vice president of Edison Schools, said the company has yet to make a profit.

“Ultimately, we will, but it’s not because we’re taking money from the classroom,” she said.

The report found that Edison, which manages the 503-student Edison Charter Academy, has discriminated against black students, sent special education students to other campuses and hasn’t given the district records that track public dollars the school uses.

Edison officials have denied any wrongdoing.

Tuesday’s vote came at a raucous evening meeting where many Edison supporters waved signs reading “Leave Edison Alone” while small children nearby chanted “Edison! Edison!”

“So the district and members of this board have accepted as fact that test scores are up and that the parents are happy. How could anyone be against such a school program?” Jason Duckworth asked the board during time set aside for public comment.

Edison has run the school since 1998, and its contract is set to expire in June 2003. Edison now has 90 days to correct problems described in the report. After that, if the board still finds problems, the school will lose its charter and become a district school again.

The school will try to remedy any problems, said Principal Vincent Matthews, but he warned that if the school reverts to the district, it will lose such benefits as an 8-hour day and a rich technology program.