tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post192427812887304944..comments2023-10-21T05:31:04.705-05:00Comments on Merle Widmer's PEORIA WATCH: Charter School in PeoriaMerle Widmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788275198834985986noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-41511430308818982042009-07-10T10:29:57.350-05:002009-07-10T10:29:57.350-05:00Thanks, JonThanks, JonMerle Widmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04267875223386924271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671777.post-30158966256132248692009-07-09T20:20:52.334-05:002009-07-09T20:20:52.334-05:00On CJ's blog, you asked about the funding of t...On CJ's blog, you asked about the funding of the charter school. I attended a school board committee of the whole meeting and here was the rough plan:<br /><br />By law, a charter school can be funded between 75 - 125% of the per pupil cost for the district. In 2007/8 the per pupil cost for D150 was $11,383. The plan is to fund the charter school with 80%. Part of the thinking is that the charter school will attract students who would NOT otherwise go to D150, thus increasing students without an increase in property taxes. (There would be some financial benefit from these same students as some of the state aid is based on the number of students enrolled on average each day - I don't believe this amount to be insignificant as property taxes represent 44% of D150 revenue sources - the difference being state and federal aid). I would also think that the charter school isn't likely to attract and thus pick up the presumably much higher cost of students with severe disabilities.<br /><br />This amount (80% of the current cost for each enrolled student at the charter) is expected to be used for all the charter school's costs, which would likely include a charter school operator, like an Edison. As you well know, most charter schools are created as completely separate schools that don't rely on the central administration of mentors, curriculum developers, etc. Further, an example was made that the charter would pay for its own busing, and if it chose to use the current P150 bus system, it would be charged for that. Granted, there could be a lot of leeway in these kinds of things, but ultimately it is P150 who decides.<br /><br />Hope this helps.Jonnoreply@blogger.com