As A National Board Certerfied Teacher Shocked by IDEA School

Dear Editor,
    As an Austinite and National Board Certified Teacher, I was shocked to learn about the IDEA school [“Not Everyone Keen on Charter IDEA,” News, Nov. 11]. Thank you for conveying how many of us (teachers) feel. We feel unappreciated, not valuable, and pressured at all times. We are always the last ones to know. I am concerned about how this school is going to "punish" many teachers. Our communities deserve better than that; a lottery of 100 students is not only discriminatory but also detrimental to the Eastside families. The superintendent and board members have a huge responsibility – this school will have major effects over the next 20 years. The last-minute meetings with less than a month's notice and two-minute speeches at citizen communication during board meetings only conveys the district's unwillingness to hear from our communities. Please stop bringing other agencies and contractors to fix our problems. Austin is unique, not Rio Grande Valley. Our community is going to be vigilant on how board members are voting on this IDEA school; we will hold you accountable.