To the Editor:

After attending the Oct. 23 Brunswick School Board workshop on charter schools, I am concerned the board’s knowledge of the required approval process is woefully inadequate.

Because the board has failed to educate itself about the law, its process is already fatally flawed. Under the statutes, it must issue a Request for Proposals and publicize it broadly. Then, it must thoroughly review all applications submitted.

Finally, it must “[f]ollow charter-granting policies and practices that are transparent, based on merit and avoid conflicts of interest or any appearance of a conflict of interest.”

Unfortunately, it appears that a conflict of interest already exists.

Since October 2012, the board has been considering a proposal from Phippsburg resident John Stadler. An ad hoc committee has met alone with Mr. Stadler on multiple occasions, and it is apparent the committee has discussed financial details with him.

Statements made by School Board Chairman Jim Grant in the newspaper and on television have already put the board at legal risk if it approves Mr. Stadler’s application but not others. In short, he has made it clear that he is eager to proceed into a partnership with Mr. Stadler.

The board has a long relationship with the law firm of Drummond Woodsum, and I suggest it contact the firm for advice. A few thousand dollars spent on legal fees is worth avoiding a judgment of several hundred thousand dollars in favor of a disgruntled applicant or a deficit of several million dollars incurred during a fumbled attempt to create an ill-conceived charter school.

Michelle A. Small
Brunswick