Another post by the tireless public school advocate Bill Phillis of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy:
Unconscionable, far-reaching consequences intrinsic in the White Hat Management company’s claims of private ownership of school assets purchased by public funds
A lot of public school personnel in Ohio at this time are embroiled with the question of, “To have or not to have Common Core.” As important as this discussion is, it pales relative to the White Hat Management claims before the Ohio Supreme Court (oral arguments will be heard September 23). The Court is being asked to decide the question of ownership of charter school assets that are purchased with taxpayer money. This is a matter that should rankle all taxpayers, particularly those who are public education advocates.
White Hat Management company claims ownership. On the other side, ten or more of White Hat’s own school boards claim ownership. Six organizations, including the charter school advocacy group, Ohio Coalition for Quality Education, have filed amicus briefs in support of White Hat’s claims. Conspicuously absent from the fray are statewide public education associations and local public school groups. Ohio School Boards Association filed the only amicus brief against the White Hat Management claims.
When the $11 million charter school pilot project was enacted, a long time public education professional was scorned, even by associates, for saying that one day this pilot project will turn into a billion dollar per year fiasco. At this juncture, it can be predicted that a ruling in favor of White Hat Management will hasten the demise of the public common school system.
A ruling in favor of the White Hat Management claims could have eventual consequences such as:
Private companies operating public services, such as corrections, might seek and acquire ownership of existing public facilities via cozy campaign contribution-related relationships between company and state officials.
Aggressive private companies might “elect” company-friendly school district board members who in turn could transfer ownership of public facilities and equipment to private operators as one of the terms in the contract.
Transparency and accountability in the use of tax money might disappear completely. Taxation without representation is already a fact in charterland and a decision in favor of White Hat Management would worsen the situation.
The privatization of education movement would be energized by a decision in favor of White Hat Management.
William Phillis
Ohio E & A
Ohio E & A | 100 S. 3rd Street | Columbus | OH | 43215
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The tag at the tail isn’t allowing me to open it! As a recently retired Ohio teacher, I’d like to share this with my FB friends, many still at it in a high profile, suburban Cleveland district….thanks for all you do!
Sent from my iPad
>
Scott, there is no link. The post is the post.
I think the court should send it back to the legislature and force the politicians to explain to their constituents why the the conversion of public assets to private ownership is in the public interest.
Our politicians have relinquished public schools to.private managers and that is not why we hired them and not what they are paid to do. They should be forced to debate this publicly. Palming their duties off on judges is just another cowardly dodge.
The court should punt and instruct Ohio lawmakers to do their jobs and rewrite OH charter school law to either disallow this or allow it and then face voters. They’re hiding behind judges. If they want to privatize they should have to RUN on that. It’s the least they could do.
I think voters will reject this conversion of public to private and that’s WHY none of them run on it.
Let’s have the debate. Public or privatized?
As a taxpayer, I’m angry. The monies belong to the public; the assets belong to the public. When you purchase a condo, it belongs to you even tho there is a management company who is paid fees to …. have the lawns mowed, snow removed, repairs made, taxes paid. BS to White Hat’s position, and shame on the politicians and public servants and lawyers and judges who feel otherwise. Why are not more groups involved in fighting this and filing amicus briefs? Shocking. Just shocking.
So when the management companies, or the charter school admins run off with the cash and their school gets closed, they can claim the real estate? Seems like its all been a ruse to get the real estate to me.
I hope they are at least paying the property tax. With some professional sports teams, the city officials not only hand over the land, they even fork over the property tax, essentially tax free land forever.