Daryl Willie sees no problem selling out to charter schools.

At the young democrat's school board forum I asked a question about charter schools. Here it is verbatim. I know because I had it written down.

My question is about charter schools, local writer Julie Delagul just did a piece about how as a group charter schools in Jacksonville perform worse than their public school counterparts. In Florida over 260 have opened taken public money and closed leaving communities in a lurch, including 13 in Jacksonville alone and finally superintendent Vitti often complains how their proliferation has siphoned millions from the district making it more difficult to operate. With all that being said have any of you taken campaign contributions form charter schools or their representatives and if so would you recuse yourself from votes that may benefit them.

Samuel Hall said he hadn’t and wouldn’t because he didn’t want to be beholden to anybody. Shannon Russell echoed his sentiment. Darryl Willie on the other hand had a very different answer.

At first he went on about choice and how our local public schools weren’t doing very well, totally ignoring the amount of charter schools that have failed and the fact that in Jacksonville they are under achieving. He then informed the crowd that he had taken money from people involved with charter schools but that wouldn’t stop him from voting on issues that might influence them.

Isn’t that one of the battles we are having right now, one of the concerns? I think the proliferation of money from the rich or business interests in politics, using money to sway policies that benefit them is of great concern to me and hopefully you too. 

Wright answered last and she said the district needs to better inform the public about how charter schools are doing and how they siphon badly needed resources away, she also pointed out that Willie had taken money from people that own charter schools something Willie had seemingly tried to down play.

This is my thing, love charter schools, support charter schools, write songs about and have parades for charter schools, heck take their money too if you like but then recuse yourself from votes that would benefit them. If they are worthy then six other members can vote aye and take up your slack. If not, not only have you just been bought and paid for but you have sold out your community as well.