May 6, 2014
Dear New Hampshire Charter School parents,
Yesterday, we learned that our Governor nominated William “Bill” Duncan to the New Hampshire Board of Education (NHBOE). This nomination could be confirmed by the Executive Council as soon as this Thursday, May 8th. This particular nomination should concern anyone who values the Charter Schools as well as all forms of Education choice in New Hampshire.
The Governors nomination of the activist Mr. Duncan comes as quite a surprise to those following NH politics. Never in recent memory has one who has initiated and assumed the role of lead plaintiff in a court case filed AGAINST the State of New Hampshire ever been simultaneously nominated for a seat on a prestigious board. Even more surprising is that the Board would be the Board of Education where Mr. Duncan has lead the fight against the first program for educational opportunity for the children of low and middle income.
(STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPREME COURT
CASE No. 2013-0455
BILL DUNCAN, et al. v. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, et al.)
Furthermore, Mr. Duncan is on record for trying to shut down the Charter School programs by publicly advocating against the additional funding bill for Charter schools (HB435) as well as making outrageous public statements, such as:
“Charter schools are a political statement not an educational improvement”.
“So HB 435 raises big questions about whether New Hampshire should fund a fast-growing new system of charter schools out of the state’s scarce revenues.”
Given Mr. Duncan’s radical activism against education choice in New Hampshire, we do not believe that he can render an impartial decision regarding the oversight of charter schools and therefore is unqualified to fill the position he has been nominated for.
If you value your children’s future and their education, please contact the following Executive Councilors immediately who will be voting on this nomination as early as this Thursday.
Executive Council Office: (603) 271-3632
Honorable Joseph D. Kenney, (District 1) Home Office (603) 473-2569
Honorable Colin Van Ostern (District 2) Home Office (603) 290-5848
Honorable Christopher T. Sununu (District 3) Home Office (603) 658-1187
Honorable Christopher C. Pappas (District 4) Home Office (603) 867-8438
Honorable Debora B. Pignatelli (District 5) Home Office (603) 888-5245
Sincerely,
Representatives:
JR Hoell, Bow/Dunbarton; Laura Jones, Rochester; Pam Tucker, Greenland; Leon Rideout, Lancaster; Dan Itse, Fremont; Carol McGuire, Epsom; David Murotake, Nashua; Michael Sylvia, Belmont