Jerome School Board Weighs Charter School Concerns

February 10, 2010

JEROME — Jerome school trustees on Monday expressed concerns about a proposed charter school coming to town.

Trustees said the proposed school, Heritage Academy, could negatively impact the district financially and might not best serve Latino students.

School district Business Manager Clark Muscat estimated lost enrollment to a charter could take as much as $1.5 million annually in state funding from the district. Some also suggested a charter school’s student demographics may not match that of the community overall.

The group proposing the 355-student charter school first brought a petition to the school district in November. That process led trustees to discuss the proposal on Monday, but a letter delivered 20 minutes prior to the meeting from the charter group’s president, former school district trustee Kelly Bangerter, informed trustees the group withdrew its petition and will submit a new one with the Idaho Public Charter School Commission instead.

The letter cited philosophical differences, beliefs and expectations between school trustees and the charter group, which was not represented at the Monday meeting.

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Trustees decided to respond to the IPCC, either in writing or with a representative attending a public hearing in Boise.

“I think we need to have a serious discussion of whether this charter school would have a negative effect on the Jerome School District,” said Trustee Rob Williams. “Charter schools, not only in Idaho, tend to skim off the elite.”

Muscat said the district could potentially lose more than $1.5 million in yearly state funding, based on the loss of $4,500 per student if the charter’s 355 students migrate exclusively from the Jerome district.

He noted that while districts are guaranteed99 percent of the previous year’s state funding when enrollment decreases, a current state proposal would eliminate that insurance.

Superintendent Dale Layne said while there could be fewer children attending district schools, many of its teachers and programs would remain necessary, leaving the district with the expenses.

He said backers of the proposed K-6 charter are considering facility options that include modular classroom buildings, leasing existing space at the Crossroads Point Business Center or remodeling the former Con Paulos auto dealership on Main Street.