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Charter school leaders and families ask Gresham‑Barlow board for audit and higher pass‑through funding
Summary
Leaders and supporters of Gresham Arthur Academy asked the board for an audit of sponsorship costs and urged increasing the district pass‑through rate from 80% to 90% so funding follows the student; the board acknowledged the request and asked staff for further information.
Representatives from Gresham Arthur Academy pressed the Gresham‑Barlow School District board to complete an audit of sponsorship costs and to consider increasing the pass‑through funding rate so more state dollars follow students to the charter.
"We're asking for a very basic level of funding in order for us to fully function in the role we've partnered with you to provide," Candace Barton, principal at Gresham Arthur Academy, said. She said current pass‑through funds at 80% are insufficient and cited an audit performed by Reynolds School District that found pass‑through of 92% was feasible.
Multiple supporters echoed the request. Crystal Sweeney, a staff member and parent at Arthur Academy, said raising the pass‑through to 90% would allow the school to hire staff and provide essential resources. Alex Frank, a district graduate and parent, cited the school’s higher comparative test scores as evidence of success and urged the board to treat the charter as a performance model.
Board response: Chair Blake Peterson indicated he had asked district leadership follow up on the letter and said he had pushed questions to district staff. The board did not vote on funding changes at the Nov. 6 meeting but signaled that staff would gather information and return with data for further discussion.
Why it matters: Charter pass‑through rates affect budgets for charter operations and can shift district revenue available for other programs. The academy requested an audit to clarify the district’s sponsorship costs and to inform any funding‑rate changes.
Next steps: District staff said they will follow up with the board; the board encouraged interested members and staff to engage in follow‑up conversations. The principal’s written comments and the academy’s request remain on file on the district website.
