9/9/14 - The Brighton Board of Education meeting Monday night got a little heated, with the board president taking exception to comments by a resident. Sue Ellen Ikens spoke at both the opening and closing public comments portions of the meeting, criticizing the pending purchase of the vacant Lindbom school building by a group that plans to turn it into a charter school. Among other things, Ikens said the private sector should not be in charge of educating children, any more than it is for responsible for the military, police or fire departments. Ikens stated further that since charter schools use public tax dollars by which they operate â and yet have school boards not elected by the public or open to public scrutiny âit amounts to âtaxation without representation.â Board President Nick Fiani took exception to Ikensâ statements, saying some of them were inaccurate. He tells WHMI that her comments â at Mondayâs meeting and at previous meetings - verge on being âdefamatoryâ in regard to the board and to himself as board president. Fiani says he would be glad to meet with Ikens at her convenience to discuss her statements and criticisms, possibly with Superintendent Greg Gray sitting in. The board this summer gave the green light to the American Classical Academies to purchase the building and property for $1.45 million, provided all the criteria and deadlines are met. A local group plans to lease the building and call it the Lindbom Classical Academy. The ACA has about four months to perform its due diligence before closing on the property can take place. If it falls through, the Grainger Construction Company has a backup offer of $1.6 million waiting. Grainger proposes to convert the property into a senior citizen assisted living development. (TT)
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