Under his plan, Fresno Unified School Superintendent Michael Hanson wants to turn the Old Dailey Elementary School at Palm and Shields into the first charter school ... run by him.
Hanson explained, "We're simply stepping forward in some very difficult times to put together a premier academic program to offer students a great, great future."
But, the Fresno Teachers Association sees it as a union busting power grab.
Greg Gadams said, "He's creating his own school and he's going to use all Fresno Unified's resources and bill it all back to the district the only difference will be there won't be union teachers at that school."
Hanson said, he's just trying to do what's best for the kids, but the charter does call for non union teachers who can be fired at will and said he expected union criticism.
"They are based on trying to scare students, families and potential staff members away from a charter with a lot of smoke and mirrors. About what's going on. This is not about adult issues and it cannot be," said Hanson.
The Teachers Union counters, it's an unusual idea, and if the school board approves they will challenge it in court.
"Nobody else has tried this and I believe nobody else has tried this because it's a huge conflict of interest," said Gadams.
Under Hanson's plan, two school board members would also serve on the charter school board.
The Teachers Association said Hanson plans to convert six schools to charters, driving out more than four-hundred union teachers.
