Dear members of the SMCPS board of education,

We feel compelled to write this letter to clear some misconceptions that were presented Wednesday night at the board of education meeting regarding the Chesapeake Public Charter School. Please excuse the bluntness of this letter but we want the facts to be stated simply and be easily understood.

Education Director:

The hiring committee has interviewed a fully and highly qualified person for this position.

The committee members from CPCS have given a YES vote for this candidate.

This person needs to be hired immediately so that the CPCS can work toward opening of the school without further holdup from the SMCPS

school system. The school district is keeping CPCS from opening

without this hire.

Finances:

The Chesapeake Public Charter School has a balanced budget.

The CCS Alliance has met all fund raising goals; they have raised $120,000 as needed.

Fund raising will be much easier in future years as there will be an existing school and an involved parent base to assist rather then a few people.

Curriculum:

The SMCPS school board approved this curriculum and method of teaching last March when the Charter agreement was accepted and signed.

Transportation:

It has been determined weeks ago that buses would not be offered.

Parents are well aware of this. This is not an issue with traffic flow.

All other traffic issues are easily resolved.

Enrollment:

There has been much demand for this school by the parents of this community. There will be a full school in the Fall of ’07 with many families eager and waiting to get in. The waiting list currently has more than 100 people waiting to get in.

Dr. Martirano’s remaining list of items contains issues that have already been resolved, or can be resolved easily and without delay, which was not reported correctly Wednesday evening.

How many more trumped up excuses will you allow to be presented to you? As publicly elected officials, stand up for what is right and what is being asked of you by the parents, educators and members of this St. Mary’s community.

There are no legally glaring issues that should keep CPCS from opening.

Allow the school to open, as you are mandated by the state of Maryland.

Change is not easy but you can make it happen.

Maribeth Boeke Ganzell

Sanford Ganzell, Ph.D.

Lexington Park