By Patrick Anderson
The fight over the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School approval resumed today in Malden, where Gloucester's state lawmakers again asked the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to void the charter, and urged Attorney General Martha Coakley to launch an investigation of procedural complaints.
The Education Board was scheduled to discuss a scathing report by the state's inspector general alleging improper and politically motivated actions leading up to the Gloucester charter's approval, but had yet to do so by mid-day.
In earlier statements, Education Board chairwoman Maura Banta has insisted the board does not have the legal standing to rescind the charter because of flaws in the approval process.
But before calling for Coakley's involvement, state Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante wrote to Secretary of Education Paul Reville, who sits on the board, and laid out in a letter their legal argument for revocation.
Reville, whose political lobbying in favor of the Gloucester charter helped spur the inspector general's investigation, has recently called for the charter to be voided.
In addition to the Gloucester controversy and inspector general's report, the board was scheduled to address the proposed revocation of a Springfield charter school and non-renewal of a school in Lowell.
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Patrick Anderson may be contacted at 978-283-7000 x3455 or panderson@gloucestertimes.com.
