Board presses applicants on whether charter will drain district funds; applicants cite grants and different funding mix

Board members repeatedly returned to the fiscal question: how approving a charter that enrolls up to 300 students would affect district finances. One member framed the concern simply: if those children move to the charter, "the money follows the child," and the district could lose per‑pupil revenue.

Pat Hyatt acknowledged the basic formula but told the board the charter receives a different per‑pupil amount in practice, citing an example figure of about $7,900 in state funding per child in their calculations and pointing to audits and proposed per‑pupil averages. A board finance speaker also explained that audited per‑pupil totals combine multiple funds and that enrollment drops reduce district revenue. Applicants argued the charter could recapture roughly 2% of funding when chartered through the district, and said the district would also benefit from programmatic opportunities, though the board pressed for a clear net‑benefit analysis before any approval.

The discussion left open several fiscal questions: exact per‑pupil amounts, net fiscal impact on each school, and whether district programs could be strengthened without approving a separate charter school. Board members requested clearer financial modeling ahead of any vote.