The Gilmer Board of Education confronted Oakland Academy Charter School on Oakland’s charter petition before a packed conference room last night. The room overflowed with both supporters and opponents of the charter school. Opponents held signs reading, “Vote No,” many of whom were teachers, FYN later learned. Citizens filled the seats and lined the back and side walls, some spilling out into the hallway, forced to mull near the door.

Superintendent Bryan Dorsey led the board in the inquiries, scrutinizing the charter petition before him. The Oakland Board of Trustees sat in the front row, answering each question, defending its vision for the school. Led by Dorsey, the board’s concerns dealt mainly with financial issues and operating costs. However, Dorsey or the board asked very few questions about curriculum. Through a series of point and counter-point, the school board brought up its current budgetary strains and the inevitable health insurance hikes confronting the board in the near future, laying the groundwork for the night’s theme: lack of funds.

While Gilmer Chairperson Kathy Jones said that she didn’t think anyone on the school board was against charter schools, member Gary Hyde asked how the county was expected to make a budget when the charter gave an unspecified amount to fund; as a charter, Oakland said it would receive funding from grants. Oakland Trustee Chairman Isaac Lassiter pointed out that the state will give grants to rural regions and that Gilmer meets those specifications. Although the charter qualifies for a variety of grants, charters can not include the prospect of these grants in the proposal, simply because the grants are not guaranteed.

Dorsey said that the board will schedule a special called meeting in the first or second week of February to make a vote on the charter application.

FYN will further dissect the event in upcoming articles.