|
Area charter schools being forced to look for new sponsors
Staff Writer Crosslake and Emily charter schools are losing the Minnesota Department of Education as their sponsor, and they'll have to find a new sponsor by next school year.
The state education department notified the two charter schools by letter on Nov. 20 that it wouldn't renew its contracts after the 2008-09 school year. The letter states that in 2005 the Legislature eliminated its authority to sponsor charter schools beyond the 10 schools that it already sponsors. Since then, the state department made the decision to no longer sponsor charter schools. A charter school may not exist without a valid sponsor.
Harlan Young, Crosslake Community School Board chair, said school officials were surprised when they found out that the state would not sponsor charter schools anymore.
"The state department gave us a lot of direction," said Young. "They've offered our school good training."
The Crosslake Community School, which opened in the fall 2000, has an estimated $1 million budget. The charter school currently has 116 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and 23 staff members.
Tami Martin, Crosslake charter school director, said the sponsor's role is to oversee the school's overall operations by making sure it meets all the state requirements and that it's compliant in all areas, including academics, finances, transportation and school procedures. Martin said sponsors do not supply any funding to the schools.
The Crosslake school created a vision committee to research sponsor possibilities. Martin said there are rules and regulations in regard to charter school sponsors, but she said any school district or higher education organization qualifies.
Martin has contacted the Pequot Lakes School District and she plans to contact Central Lakes College in Brainerd about sponsoring the charter school.
Young said other organizations that the school is looking at that sponsor charter schools in the state include Volunteers of America of Minnesota, Audubon Center of the North Woods of Sandstone and Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center of Finland.
"We're in the early stages of looking for a sponsor," said Young. "The state told us that if we don't find a suitable sponsor they won't automatically drop us. They want us to be successful.
Martin said the school's in good financial shape and has been academically successful and those factors will help the school find a sponsor.
Tom Shinabargar, Emily Charter School director, said the Emily charter school serves 44 preschool- through sixth-grade students. He said he doesn't believe it will be a problem finding a new sponsor.
"We'll find someone to sponsor us," said Shinabargar. "We're a good school ... We had good MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) test scores. There are more sponsors today than there were in 1994 when we first opened."
Shinabargar said the school, which has an estimated $519,000 operating budget, has had inquiries from people who want to sponsor the school.
The Pillager Area Charter School is not affected by this change by the state education department. PACS is sponsored by Northwoods Children's Services in Duluth.
A charitable organization wishing to sponsor a charter school must submit an affidavit of intent to sponsor with the state education department. In addition, the charitable organization must provide a copy of the most recent year's audit showing a fund balance of $2 million, proof of nonprofit status and proof of membership to the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits or the Minnesota Council on Foundations among other requirements.
To Subscribe to the Brainerd Dispatch, Click Here.
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.
|
|
Top Commented Articles
