Phoenix International (Pesota) and district begin talks on charter changes; enrollment, transport and quarterly funding are central

Phoenix International School of the Arts (Pesota) and Charles County Public Schools staff discussed proposed changes to Pesota’s charter agreement at the board’s April 28 work session, but the two sides left without an agreed amendment. The discussion centered on three finance‑ and access‑related topics: transportation, midyear enrollment flexibility and quarterly per‑pupil disbursements.

Pesota’s chief executive, Angelica Jackson, and CCPS charter liaison Chris Miller each described operational constraints and possible fixes. Jackson said Pesota needs greater contractual flexibility so the charter school can pursue alternatives to district transportation and manage cash flow. “We would like to consider being able to purchase our own buses or develop our own shuttle system,” Jackson told the board.

Why it matters: Transportation and the district’s quarterly disbursement rules affect whether Pesota can stabilize staffing and program costs. Pesota’s relatively small, year‑to‑year enrollment changes can create substantial cash‑flow gaps under the current payment method, school leaders said.

Key points of disagreement

Quarterly disbursements: Pesota’s annual per‑pupil allocation is split across quarterly payments that currently track prior‑quarter enrollment, which Pesota said makes budget planning difficult. Pesota asked the district to instead “honor the count date” (September 30) and apportion per‑pupil funds across quarters based on that count, a common practice the school said many districts use.

CCPS countered that forward‑funding carries risk to the district budget when enrollments fall and also noted legal constraints tied to grant and blueprint funding formulas. The district’s business office described quarterly reconciliations already in place and cautioned that forward‑funding could shift financial risk to CCPS.

Transportation: The existing charter language requires CCPS‑provided transportation; Jackson and Pesota argued that autonomy to contract or operate its own shuttle could yield savings and better parental access. District staff said that transportation funding and equitable access were central concerns and that the board must weigh whether changes would reduce accessibility for some parts of the county.

Enrollment flexibility: Pesota sought clearly defined windows for adding students midyear (a January window was discussed) so the school can fill seats and restore funding when pupils leave; CCPS said it could consider midyear enrollments at the superintendent’s discretion but asked for more specifics.

Process and next steps

Board members asked Pesota to provide detailed, written plans — particularly for transportation and cash‑flow modeling — and recommended the district and Pesota continue negotiations. Superintendent Dr. Navarro and staff said they will work with Pesota and return to the board; Pesota requested board participation in negotiation meetings and sought prompt resolution in time for the 2025–26 school year.

Pesota data and operations

Jackson said Pesota served 220 students at the time of the presentation and that the school is staffed with roughly 10.5 full‑time equivalent teachers plus some long‑term substitutes. She also highlighted the school’s arts‑integrated and Cambridge International curriculum, partnerships with community organizations, and efforts to grow its specialized arts programming.

Board reaction

Board members expressed support for Pesota’s mission but emphasized the need for more specificity: the district wants concrete transportation proposals, enrollment‑count models and cash‑flow projections before changing contract language. Several members said they are open to flexibility but asked CCPS and Pesota to return with detailed proposals and legal review for the board’s consideration.

Ending: The board did not take action on amendments; members said they expected additional meetings and report‑backs before any contract changes would be scheduled for a vote.