Author

Larry Lee

News / State

Turmoil amidst the pines

It’s reasonable to think there might be some controversy about any new school. Maybe where it is located, what it is named, who the principal may be, what courses will be taught? But seldom do you expect the wholesale turmoil that hit rural Washington County, AL when locals learned that a handful of folks wanted … Continued

Larry Lee

July 17, 2019

Opinion

Legislature ignoring charter school law

Our Montgomery lawmakers often labor long and hard at drafting a bill — and then ignoring what they wrote later on. There is no better example of this than the charter school law sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh and passed in 2015. This law sets up a 10-member charter school commission to govern charter schools. … Continued

Larry Lee

July 8, 2019

Opinion

What is “New Schools For Alabama” and why are taxpayers giving them $400,000?

When the Senate sent its education budget to the house during the past legislative session, the line item for the charter school commission was increased from $200,000 to $900.000 and there was an additional $500,000 for New Schools for Alabama. I could not find anyone who knew what New Schools for Alabama was, what they … Continued

Larry Lee

July 1, 2019

Opinion

Texas school board member minces no words about Soner Tarim

Since Soner Tarim of Sugarland, Texas, has management contracts for both Woodland Prep and LEAD Academy charter schools, I watched with great interest when he appeared before the Texas Board of Education on June 14 trying to get approval to open eight new charter schools in Austin and Houston. Board member Georgina Perez of El … Continued

Larry Lee

June 27, 2019

Opinion

“I Just Feel So Unnecessary”

Once again I show my age because the headline quote was a favorite of the country musician-comic known as Stringbean. Years ago he was a regular on the Grand Ole Opry and later on the TV show, Hee Haw. His words definitely seem to fit the world of public schools we deal with each and … Continued

Larry Lee

June 13, 2019

Opinion

Finally, state superintendent reverses course, weighs in on Washington County charter debacle

For months, state superintendent Eric Mackey has said he has no jurisdiction over the state charter school commission. However, as we have pointed out numerous times, the charter law of 2015 clearly says, “The department shall oversee the performance and effectiveness of all authorizers established under this act.” Furthermore, the guidelines written to govern the charter … Continued

Larry Lee

June 6, 2019

Opinion

We need to stop drinking the Florida Kool-Aid

“He could sell snow cones to Eskimos.” Nothing could be more true if some of the Eskimos are a handful of Alabama legislators and “he” is Jeb Bush. They gobble up any and everything Bush or his Foundation for Excellence in Education foundation peddles–no questions asked. However, there are people in Florida who are not … Continued

Larry Lee

May 22, 2019

Opinion

Where are Dick Tracy and Sergeant Friday when we need them?

If you are an old-timer like me, or maybe just someone who listened while your daddy told you about the “good old days,” you know that Dick Tracy was the square-jawed detective in the comic books and Sergeant Friday was the star of Dragnet back in the days of black and white TV. Like all … Continued

Larry Lee

May 16, 2019

Opinion

Washington Post digs into Washington County charter fiasco

When a newspaper with the national impact of The Washington Post covers a story out of tiny Washington County, AL, you immediately know there is something serious afoot. In this case, it is the Washington County charter fiasco that got the attention of veteran education reporter Valerie Strauss, who has worked for this newspaper for nearly 30 years. Because … Continued

Larry Lee

May 6, 2019

Opinion

“We don’t want no charter school and we don’t want no Muslims”

The gentleman who made this statement was one of 200 people who came to the Washington County high school in Chatom on Monday night, April 29. He was probably in his 60’s. His face was weathered and he wore a baseball cap and work shirt. Like everyone else in the auditorium, he had sat attentively as … Continued

Larry Lee

May 1, 2019