The thinking behind the charter school debate—not the politics—will be the subject of a Newsmakers Breakfast Sept. 26 at The Peninsula Club.

Karen Bentley

Thought leaders Karen Bentley, a former Mecklenburg County Commissioner, and Jim Fuller, a member of the Davidson Board of Commissioners, will field questions for the better part of an hour over breakfast.

Davidson voted ‘no” on HB 514, the controversial piece of legislation that gave North Carolina communities the option to launch their own charter schools. Bentley has had two children in charter schools; Fuller, a prominent attorney, is the husband of a public school teacher.

Jim Fuller

HB 514 widened an already deep rift between Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and suburban towns in Mecklenburg County. The town commissioners in Cornelius and Huntersville endorsed HB 514

When that happened, the CMS board virtually rebuked both towns, voting to put new schools in Cornelius and Huntersville at the bottom of the priority list.

The issues here go deeper that political tit for tat.

Newsmakers Breakfasts are an open-forum Q&As with people who make the news. Anyone can ask a question.

Doors open at 7:15 a.m. for networking.

The buffet-style breakfast gets under way at 7:30 a.m. The Q&A begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 9 a.m.

The cost to attend, $12, includes a full country breakfast and beverages. Reserve a seat by calling 704-895-1335 with Visa or MasterCard.

The Presenting Sponsors are Dixie Dean and Christina Stone, Allen Tate Realtors in Cornelius.

The Breakfast Sponsors are Master Title Co., the title division of Allen Tate and First National Bank.

Coffee Sponsors include Davidson Wealth Management, Hood Hargett Insurance and KS Audio Video.