My name is Joanne Scott.
I am a resident of Salem.
I am in opposition to the Salem Academy Charter School.
I am here to say that the Salem School System DOES WORK!
I have had 17 years of positive and varied personal experience with Salem schools. I have three children.

My oldest began kindergarten in Salem in 1985 and is graduating this spring with high honors from the College of the Holy Cross. This child is intellectually talented, took many honors and advanced placement classes at Salem High School, and scored 790 on her verbal and 640 on her math SAT's.

My second child, who graduates this year from Salem High, is socially and athletically talented and so is a tri-captain in soccer, track, and lacrosse. She sometimes struggles with class work but has been equally nurtured and valued by her schools’ administration and staff.

My youngest is in 8th grade at the Collins Middle School. He is well-rounded academically and athletically. He is a quiet child. This year he is rapidly progressing through Algebra I and is given an average of two to three hours of homework each evening.

Clearly, this family history shows that SALEM IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SCHOOL SYSTEM!

I remember the summers before each of my children were about to enter the Collins Middle School. They felt anxious and frightened when viewing the Big Bad School on the hill. Somehow this Fear Factor has been capitalized upon and spread to the parents of elementary school children. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS FEAR OR ANXIETY! My son said tonight when listening to some of the concerns, "I don’t know why people are so worried about Collins, I felt at home the first day there." This is because the three wharves are further divided into clusters… his cluster consisting of about 130 children with whom he spends his three years at Collins. In fact he spends greater than 4 hours per day with the same 22 children.

Proponents of the charter school raise concerns related to our existing system. As a parent, I understand these concerns. However, I don’t believe this charter school is the answer. It is a quick fix that in the end will do far more harm than good to Salem and its children. I would urge those who have different ideas for Salem schools to work through the School Committee to advocate for those programs that would benefit everyone. There are serious, bright, dedicated individuals on the Salem School Committee and they listen to the residents of Salem. They are accountable.

Speaking of accountability, I would like to ask everyone in this room, if those residents of Salem have concerns or complaints regarding a charter school they are funding through their taxes, who will listen to them? THIS VIDEO CAMERA?