Salem explores charter school

If a judge rules against a challenge to the closing of Salem’s school, town leaders believe they may have found a solution to keeping a school in their town.  They are asking the public to come to a meeting next week to discuss the idea of bringing a statewide charter school.  If Tamassee-Salem Middle/High School is closed in June, the town anticipates that it will receive control of the buildings and campus.  And it’s in those buildings that the charter school, not yet publicly identified, would operate.  Charter schools received public funding but differ from regular schools in that they are set free from rules, regulations, and statutes that public schools must follow. Mayor Diane Head says the project would ultimately depend on a favorable vote on April 18 by the charter school’s board of directors.  Preceding that vote will be a town and community meeting at 6 o’clock Tuesday night, April 12 at the Salem Community Center.  At that meeting, parents and students will have a chance to have questions answered and, perhaps, determine whether a charter school in grades 6-12 is something they would be interested in.  Town officials say the April 12 meeting is open to all parents and students in other Oconee County attendance zones.  If interested, they would also be allowed to apply for enrollment.  If you have questions, Salem officials ask that you write them down and submit them to Town Hall in advance.