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Boardman school board: Greater accountability for charter schools
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
BOARDMAN
The Boardman school board is calling for greater accountability and transparency for charter/community schools.
The resolution the board approved Monday also urges the General Assembly to establish a separate funding stream for charter schools.
The board says more than 120,000 students statewide attend charter schools, at a cost of more than $950 million in state funding each year, while last year, 511 of 613 school districts, including Boardman Local Schools, received less per pupil under the state’s funding formula than the minimum $5,745 per pupil received by the charter schools.
They also note numerous state audits have shown there is insufficient transparency about how state money is being spent by charter school operators.
To receive state funds, the board wants charter schools and their affiliated companies to be audited annually by the Ohio auditor of state, and to join the Ohio Checkbook Initiative, an online portion of the Ohio state treasurer’s Transparency Project designed to make government more open and accountable to taxpayers. It allows Ohioans to follow their tax dollars and see how public money is being spent.
The board also wants charter schools to comply with the Ohio Sunshine Law.
At the meeting, the board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Meridian Community Care.
Meridian will provide intervention and outreach services at Center and Glenwood middle schools to families of children who are struggling, said Superintendent Frank Lazzeri.
The services are provided at no cost to the school district.