Video: Superintendent says legislation co-sponsored by Rep. McNeely would cost Iredell-Statesville Schools $12 million

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman

VIDEO: Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James says House Bill 219 (Charter School Omnibus) would cost the district $12 million, which would be funneled to charter schools. Rep. Jeff McNeely (R-Iredell) signed on as a co-sponsor of the proposed legislation.

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Read HB 219 HERE.

12 thoughts on “Video: Superintendent says legislation co-sponsored by Rep. McNeely would cost Iredell-Statesville Schools $12 million”

  1. Larry says:

    Interesting to hear how Dr. James is concerned about keeping tax dollars going to I-SS. How many contracts does I-SS have with companies outside of Iredell County or even the State of N.C.? Who does I-SS spend its money with?

    • Elizabeth says:

      Mr. Kindley – Do you know that the last two Charter schools built in Iredell County are both owned by Charter Schools USA, a FOR-PROFIT company? I would much rather my tax dollars go toward a non-profit school system that serves all children (including the ones who can’t afford private transportation to get to school – which is what is required of most of the charter schools). Charter schools also do not provide education or services to special needs children.
      And, ISS selects vendors based upon the list provided by the NC Department of Public Instruction. ISS gets fined when they stray from that list. I’m sure if you’re concerned about your taxpayer money remaining in Iredell County, then you could work to get your business on that list.

  2. John Kindley says:

    ISS gets gets all of their funding from taxpayers. The taxpayers that choose to send their children to charter, private, or homeschools still continue to pay for public schools. Is this fair? I believe the property taxes these people pay would be way more than $12 million. Why do people pay more to send their children to charter and private schools. There must be some valid reasons.

    • Jeff James says:

      John: I’m not sure where you got this information. Federal, state, and local taxes fund the student. If you leave ISS, all that money follows. The Charters are asking for a cut of grants and Medicare we bill while we do the work. I am for choice when it is fair.

  3. Bill says:

    Rep. McNeely is 100% for what is best for school children and their parents rights to send their children to quality, SAFE schools. And tax dollars should accompany the students to those schools.

  4. Dawn says:

    My children attend a Charter School in Iredell County where we reside. I would move before I allowed my children to attend a ISS School due to the poor test scores and ongoing violence. I am a product of the public school system. It served me well. However, I want more for my children, and ISS just doesn’t deliver. I wish they did. I would love to be able to support ISS. Every child deserves a quality education!

    • Jeff James says:

      Dawn: There is one one Charter in Iredell that has the academic data to compete with I-SS. The highest performing schools are I-SS early colleges and a few high schools and many of our elementary schools. Yes, not all schools have the same performance. The higher the free and reduced meals, which somewhat equates to poverty, the lower the test scores with the current flawed state model. Since I-SS has choice, you have the ability to send your child to another site. Outside the one charter school our system test scores are some of the best.

  5. Dr Dankenstein says:

    Did Jeff James just call Jeff McNeeley a Socialist?

    Please expand on this further so that the citizens of this country are made aware of “Micro Schools”.

    • Jeff says:

      I don’t believe I called Rep. McNeely a socialist. We are colleagues. My comment was handing money to someone who does nothing to earn it seem a lot like socialism. Once again, as I said, the money follows the student. I have no issue with choice. To protect our students and employees,I have an issue sharing funds that Charters have done none of the work to earn!

  7. John Kindley says:

    My post says taxpayers fund ISS and we pay local, State and Federal taxes. I don’t think I’m confused.

    • Jeff James says:

      So why should Charters get money they do no work to earn? They get the same allotment I-SS does. We choose to seek grants and other ways to close the funding gap. Not sure Charters should participate in something they did no work to get.

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