InMaricopa By Kathleen Stinson
The Maricopa Unified School District governing board will discuss Wednesday a committee’s recommendations for spending $3.125 million next school year – money that includes additional state funds the district received for converting six schools to public charters.
The district decided this year to convert six of its nine schools to public charters for the 2014-2015 school year.
The state provides additional funding for public charters. MUSD officials had expected to receive $3.6 million for the conversions, but the Arizona Legislature cut that funding to $2.7 million prior to passing the state budget.
The charter schools will not receive additional funding after the 2014-15 school year.
“Charter funds come with no strings attached and can be used at the discretion of the school district for one more year,” said Steve Chestnut, the district superintendent.
In addition to the $2.7 million, the budget committee also looked at how to spend an additional $425,000 – funding related to an education-focused ballot measure approved by voters in 2000.
The committee was formed only to look at the $3.125 million – not the entire budget, which Chestnut expects to total more than $35 million. The committee is composed of 11 community members and 11 members of the district’s staff.
