Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Charter representatives urge board to include charter schools in surtax funding; caller cites petition with 2,300 signatures
Summary
Charter-school advocates told the Manatee County School Board during public comment that charter students are public students and asked the board to include charters in planned sales-tax-funded facility and security improvements.
Speakers representing charter-school families urged the School Board of Manatee County on June 10 to include charter schools in planned millage/surtax distributions for security and facilities.
Steve Zickafoos, speaking for charter parents and teachers, said more than 2,300 community members had signed a petition calling for equitable distribution of surtax proceeds to charter campuses. He said charter families view their students as public-school students who deserve the same investments for safety and facilities. Zickafoos praised the board for scheduling a timely vote and for the district's willingness to listen during recent workshops.
Why it matters: The board is preparing implementation plans for voter-approved surtax revenue intended for facility and safety improvements. Whether charter campuses are eligible for particular local distributions depends on board policy and allocation guidance; advocates said exclusion would leave thousands of students without intended improvements.
District context: The interim superintendent and staff did not announce an immediate policy change at the meeting; the board has been discussing guiding documents and a certification process to trigger funding distributions. Board members said changes to guiding documents and a certifying plan would be posted and discussed in upcoming meetings.
Next steps: Zickafoos asked the board to "include charter schools in the CertX plan, update every guiding document, and implement the changes without delay." The board did not take immediate action in the meeting but has a continuing schedule of workshops and hearings on funding-guidance updates.
Ending: Charter advocates asked the board to finalize changes that would ensure surtax dollars reach charter campuses; the board signaled an intention to continue the conversation in scheduled workshops and votes.
