Deborah Bruss

Innovation in approaches to education has often brought many positive outcomes to our public schools. However, HB 1358 would weaken and could even eliminate public schools. This is not innovation; it is the destruction of a system that should provide a solid education for all the children in our state. NH has always prided itself on local control, but HB 1358 would take decisions away from elected school board members and put the control in appointed members. This is a huge mistake. My two biological children, who attended public schools, launched successful careers after graduating from high school and receiving an excellent higher education. My two adopted children received some of the special services they needed (more services would have been helpful). Under a charter school system, I doubt they would have graduated from high school. Please vote against this bill so we can continue to build a better public education system.