PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee is urging a no vote on Question 2, which would raise the cap on the number of charter schools and allow a dozen more to open.

 

The ballot question will be put to voters on Nov. 8. In April, the School Committee passed a proclamation against the question. That same proclamation was tabled by the City Council on Tuesday.

 

"One of the major issues we have is the amount of money that is paid from our district to charter schools," said Chairwoman Katherine Yon.

 

Yon said the district is projected to lose $2.3 million next year from students opting to go to a charter school instead of the Pittsfield Public Schools. In return, it is projected to receive $291,788 in reimbursement from the state.

 

"I just don't see how the math works on that," she said of the advertisements by those in favor of the question claiming school districts actually receive more with more charter schools.

 

Beyond that, Yon says charter school teachers don't need the same licenses as traditional public schools, and don't have as strict oversight from the Department of Education. 

 

"Those tax dollars are going to the charter school and that charter school is run by an appointed board," she said. "This to me is taxation without representation."

 

The sentiment is common among public school districts across the state with 171 or so of them adopting resolutions against the question — including the city of Boston.

 

School Committee member Cynthia Taylor said charter schools are only considered public because they are taxpayer funded. Otherwise, she said they operate more like private schools. She added charter schools have the right to expel students if they aren't working out for the district, something the public schools cannot do. 

 

"It is a very different standard," Taylor said.

 

She urged residents to "call our city councilors and ask them to support the resolution." 

 

School Committee member Pamela Farron said the major aspect of the charter school question isn't about providing other opportunities for students to learn, but really on the funding aspect of it. 

 

"Not every school fits every student. However, I am voting no on the charter school because of the way it is funded," she said.

 

The entire School Committee expressed the same sentiments. School Committee member Daniel Elias said the campaigns in favor of the question are "not truths" and urged resident to do their own research and "let the facts dictate the course of action."

 

The City Councilors were mostly opposed to the question but the proclamation was tabled on Tuesday because many questioned whether or not a legislative body should take such an opinionated stance on an issue going to the ballot box.