Kelly Ayotte and the majority of Republicans in this state are pushing for opening up charter school enrollment for all children no matter where their parent’s income falls. This means that taxpayers will be supplementing all home-schooled children, parochial school children and children attending private schools. The cost for this will be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Much of the cost come on the back of taxpayers. Towns will pay more or have to cut their budgets.

A recent article in the Monitor reported that a charter school director has been charged with using over $73,000 of federal funds for her own use. The program was forced to close after one year and then declared bankruptcy. Not only did the director steal money but she stole a year of instruction from the students attending the school.

This comes when we learn that attempts to audit the private out-of-state agency that administers the vouchers discovered that 24% of the applicants they allowed were not vetted properly. No one is properly monitoring this agency. Educational vouchers will cost taxpayers despite what Republicans say. Republicans are not supporting public education despite the fact that in many small towns our schools are the centers of our community.

Susan Seidner

Pembroke