To the Editor:

In a recent letter titled “Charter schools too exclusive” (July 12, Page A10), Maria Holt voiced many objections to charter schools, using Harpswell Coastal Academy as an example. While the issues surrounding charter schools are complex, several facts cited by Ms. Holt regarding HCA are incorrect.

Her letter states “HCA Head of School John D’Anieri tells us there will be 60 non-special needs students from fourth to ninth grade.” Her facts are wrong on both the grades and overall numbers served. She puts words in Mr. D’Anieri’s mouth that he could not have possibly uttered — he would have been talking about a school quite different from the one he’s been working to start.

HCA will serve 60 students in grades six and nine this fall, adding 30 to 40 students in each grade our first few years until we reach a student body of 240 to 270 spanning grades six through 12.

Ms. Holt’s assumptions regarding special-needs students are particularly unfair to individuals who have worked tirelessly to ensure HCA is accessible to all students. We’ve developed a strong working relationship with School Administrative District 75 to make sure that the special educators who have worked with children throughout the district have the opportunity to continue their service within our school in collaboration with our special educators on staff. Our commitment to specialneeds students meets or exceeds those set for any other school in Maine.

The letter also focuses on a charter school being very exclusive, using a misleading definition of the word charter. HCA works within the public system. The Legislature, state charter commission and the Department of Education govern us. We cannot exclude or select any student we please, and enroll only public school students using the same funding formula as other public schools.

Furthermore, Ms. Holt tries to validate her argument quoting a 1998 study — so outdated it was written before any student to attend HCA was born.

We’re part of the network of public schools with the same goal as any other — providing the best environment possible for our students to learn and grow.

Will McClaran
Harpswell Coastal Academy
Board of Directors
Harpswell