Jordan Board denounces charter school legislation

Following in the footsteps of its rabble-rousing northern neighbors, Jordan School Board unanimously approved a resolution this week decrying state law.

The statement denounces legislation that forces districts to dole out more funding for each charter student living within the district boundaries. Ogden and Granite school boards have released similar statements the past few months.

Education leaders in the three districts contend legislators promised years ago that charter schools wouldn't harm, or take money from, mainstream public schools.

"We took them at their word that that would be the case," said Granite Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp.

The boards further state charter schools aren't being held accountable for the extra funding. "We are handing them free money to do what they want with," Ronnenkamp said. Jordan will have to part with about $735,000 this school year.

Jordan's resolution states "public schools that are accountable to locally elected school boards should not be required to transfer funds to entities that are not accountable to the same patrons at large."

The boards' statements target a specific segment of Senate Bill 2, or omnibus bill, from the 2008 legislative session.

The Legislature needs to re-examine that portion of the law, said Jordan School Board President J. Dale Christensen.

"If they (lawmakers) feel that strongly about needing more money, let the Legislature appropriate it rather than pawning it off to the individual school districts," Christensen said.

Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, introduced the charter school funding legislation. The measure failed, was modified and then lumped into SB2, along with about a dozen other school bills, at the end of the 2008 legislative session. The bill is currently in litigation. Bigelow was not available for comment this week.

Charter school officials say they aren't threatened by the school boards' statements.

"I understand their position. Funding is scarce," said Brian Allen, State Charter School Board president.

Allen added charter schools are public schools and should enjoy comparable funding with all other public schools. "Parents who choose to send their children to a public charter school generally are also property-tax payers who support the local school district," he said. "There is no reason that their children should not enjoy some of the benefits of the property tax that they pay to the school district."