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February 22, 2010

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Gibault needs better way to resolve school crisis

Charter school an awkward solution

Anonymous The Tribune Star Mon Feb 22, 2010, 12:40 PM EST

TERRE HAUTE — The proposal that Vigo County School Corp. sponsor a charter school at Gibault, Inc.’s campus south of Terre Haute likely will be turned down Monday night by the School Board.

Rightly so. There is no compelling argument for the local school district to make itself responsible for sponsoring and monitoring Gibault’s education program.

There are a number of reasons Gibault’s request does not seem appropriate within the framework and history of Indiana’s charter school program, including the fact that financial, not educational, considerations are driving the idea.

Gibault has cited state funding cuts as a reason for pursuing the charter school, which would open up new funding opportunities, including state tuition support. Gibault previously sought charter school status from Ball State University, which administers the state’s charter school program. Ball State rejected the application.

Gibault says the funding cuts may force it to close its current school if another avenue revenue stream is not found.

Since its founding by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s organization, in 1921 as a “home for wayward boys”, Gibault has evolved into a facility for boys and girls who have been removed from their communities because of their behavior. The children receive treatment and attend school there.

To keep its school going, Gibault has depended on a level of funding for each of its students through the Department of Child Services. With those funds being cut, financial pressures are mounting.

Although Gibault’s charter school proposal is basically about money, the cost would not be prohibitive for the school district. It would, however, require oversight. Because of the difficulty of educating kids with special needs, oversight of the school would be anything but a trivial exercise.

That said, if the School Board does turn down the proposal, Gibault’s plight should not be viewed as unimportant or inconsequential. Gibault has been part of the fabric of the community for almost 90 years. Not only does it serve a valuable function by treating troubled children from around the state, it is an institution that employs 187 people and has been a faithful community partner.

Even in voting down the charter school request, the school district should not wash its hands of the problem. The district has a stake in Gibault’s ability to educate its children and should extend its resources to help Gibault find a better way to accomplish its educational goals.

Gibault needs the Vigo County School Corp.’s expertise and energy in pushing the state to resolve the funding issues that have created this recent crisis. What’s more, Vigo County’s legislative delegation, primarily state Sen. Tim Skinner and state Rep. Clyde Kersey, should step forward to assist Gibault in its state-induced crisis. Both men know public education quite well.

Indiana State University, which has its own college of education, also should extend a hand. A combined effort from political and education leaders may be what it takes to get Gibault through this challenging time.

A way must be found for Gibault to keep treating and educating its young clientele without being forced to devise awkward programs that infringe on the missions of other entities.

While imposing on the school district to sponsor and monitor a charter school at Gibault does not seem to be a reasonable solution, a solution is imperative because Gibault’s problem is a community problem.

Everyone has an investment in the outcome.

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