Charter-school applicants face budget cuts, new timelines

State charter school officials are cautiously moving forward on seven charter-school applications for fall 2011 despite funding woes and a new timeline crunch dictated by the Legislature.

The 2009 state education funding bill, HB2, mandates that charter-school applications now receive only preliminary approval from the State Board of Education in the fall. The Legislature will then decide on funding, after which the applications can be finalized.

"We just hold our breath until April," said Jacie Johnson, board member of the proposed Baer Canyon Charter High School.

At one point, HB2 prohibited expansion of charter school capacity for the 2010-11 school year. However, some lawmakers said they felt obligated to fund the schools since many were already far along in the launching process, including finalizing leases, contracts and school boards. The item was removed from the bill.

Some charter-school applicants say they don't like how the new timeline puts them in limbo until spring. "It's adding stress to an already difficult process," said Tom Koehler, chairman of the board of the proposed Good Foundations Academy.

Other applicants are optimistic and say they simply told prospective contractors they can't sign anything until April. "I have a lot of faith that by the 2011-2012 school year the state will be in a better financial situation," said Jeanne Whitmore, chief administrative officer and board member for the proposed Aristotle Academy.

It's a rough road for charter-school applicants this year. Five were weeded out during the preliminary round a few months ago. Some charter school officials suggest getting even tougher.

State Charter School Association policy and advocacy director Kim Frank said she believes the State Charter School Board should give priority to applications for expanding already successful charter schools and then "take a real good, hard look" at applications for new schools.

"If it was ever the time to raise the bar, it is now," Frank said.

In late hours the last day of the session, lawmakers agreed charter-school funding will be a hot topic for the 2010 Legislature.

"Are we headed on a collision course here?" asked State Charter School Board member Tim Beagley during a recent meeting where the board discussed which charter-school applications to recommend to the State Board of Education.