To the editor:

I would like to encourage the people of Gloucester to once again come forward tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall to oppose the utterly flawed and politically corrupt application and approval process of the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School.

Lest it be forgotten, I'd like to take a few minutes to remind the citizens of our fair city that the Secretary of Education and voting Board of Education member Paul Reville sent an e-mail on Feb. 5 at 11:54 p.m. to Board of Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester, who was vacationing in Arizona. This e-mail was sent before Commissioner Chester's positive recommendation on Feb. 13, and after the Department of Education's Charter School Office issued a "do not recommend" position for the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School.

Some choice excerpts from Reville's e-mail (as first reported in the Times, Sept. 19):

"This situation presents one of those painful dilemmas. In addition to being a no-win situation, it forces us into a political cul de sac where we could be permanently trapped ..."

He goes on to say, "Frankly, I'd rather fight for the kids in the Waltham situation, but it sounds like you can't find a solid basis for standing behind that one. I'm not inclined to push Worcester, so that leaves Gloucester."

And finally, "It really is a matter of positioning ourselves so that we can be viable to implement the rest of our agenda. It's a tough but I think necessary pill to swallow. Let's discuss some more tomorrow."

This is no longer an issue of supporting or not supporting this particular charter school.

The political calculus and the disregard for honesty and transparency in this charter school application process point to one action: revocation. This charter must be revoked. The applicants must be asked to address the weaknesses of the application as noted by the state's own charter school office, and then reapply.

This charter school application and approval process is one tough pill that our children should not be forced to swallow. Please, for the sake of the future of Gloucester schoolchildren and children all over Massachusetts, come out tomorrow to make this point to the Board of Education — including Secretary Reville.

Jane Cunningham

Lincoln Avenue, Gloucester