Schools

UPDATE: School District Works on Charter School Appeal

Lacey Township School District concerned over potential revenue loss if the Creative Studies Charter School gets approved

The Lacey Township School District is working on a formal response to the Creative Studies Charter School application, Board of Education President Jack Martenak said.

Pamela Brown submitted an application to the state Department of Education for the Creative Studies Charter School on Oct. 15, aiming to open for the 2012-13 school year. The school’s philosophy is to increase student’s creativity and flexibility by integrating the arts with academics, she said.

“We’re still reviewing the charter school application and deciding on our position,” Martenak said. “We were somewhat surprised. It was launched on us at last minute.”

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Superintendent Sandra Brower is heading up the response process along with school district and board members, he said.

State law gives school districts the opportunity to provide their recommendation regarding the opening of a charter school to the Commissioner of Education, Brower said.

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“Charters are not designed to draw students out of successful school districts,” Brower said. “Lacey Township is a successful school district and remains deeply committed to offering quality instructional taught by talented and dedicated teachers. On initial review, the approval of this charter in this district has the potential to significantly change the landscape of our schools and that will be our primary focus.”

The presence of a charter school in Lacey Township would have an “inevitable impact” on the school district, as state aid and taxpayer money would go to the new institution, Martenak said.

The state's projected total budget for Creative Studies Charter School is $1,577,351 for a student enrollment of 150 students.

“The funding for charter schools is set by law, it is 90 percent of the per pupil cost of the student's resident school district,” Faith Sarafin, state Department of Education spokesperson, said. “The money flows through the school district to the charter school.”

The per pupil cost in Lacey Township is $12,252 for the 2011-12 school year. The school district would have to pay the Creative Studies Charter School $1,654,020.

State aid is dependent on the number of students in the school district, Business Administrator James Savage said.

Creative Studies has a projected enrollment of 150 students in grades three to five to start. If the school is successful, Brown anticipates an enrollment of 500 from kindergarten to eighth grade by year 11.

The school district would lose approximately $1.6 million in state aid, Martenak said.

“That would be a drastic cut in revenue,” Savage said. “We’re going to have to make that up in some way.”

Since the school district faces a state-imposed 2 percent budget cap, Savage is unsure where that money would come from. “It would probably have to come from cuts,” he said.

The school district would also be responsible for transporting students enrolled in the Creative Studies Charter School, an added expense, Savage said.

Creative Studies is allowing for an easy transition for the Lacey Township School District by offering three grades initially, Brown said. The charter school may also look to the school district to bid on contracts for food services or Child Study Teams.

“I’m not sure if we’re capable,” Savage said.

The state will approve or deny the charter school in January. If the school is denied, the applicant may apply again, Sarafin said. To date, the state has not received objections.

“In addition to the financial impact to the Lacey School District, we are focusing on the proposed curriculum program and school operations plan,” Brower said. “Our intent is to have our review completed early next week so that we can offer our recommendation to the state department. “

For more information on the charter school, read

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