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Charter Schools Due Payment July 15

Funding Teacher's Salaries At Stake In Budget Impasse

POSTED: 5:10 pm MST July 2, 2009
UPDATED: 8:16 pm MST July 2, 2009

The deadline is looming for Arizona charter schools.

On July 15, a $300 million payment is due to public school districts and $60 million due at charter schools.

The Legislature has just a couple weeks to pass a budget that meshes with the governor’s vision.

Otherwise, administrators will be unable to fund teacher salaries or operating expenses.

"There's a big unknown out there for parents, for teachers," said Susan Nicolson, parent of a student at Pinnacle Point Academy.

Nicolson and Catina Lewis both prefer the one-on-one attention they say their children get from a charter school.

But everything now hinges on the Legislature.

"If you take away the quality of education what other sources do they have," said Lewis.

On Wednesday, the governor vetoed parts of the state budget which included education.

Greg Miller, CEO of Challenge Charter School, said no cash means building payments and teacher’s pay would be in trouble.

Miller said they have a bit of a cushion but estimates that as much 50 percent of charter schools may not.

"And without any funding by July 15th they're going have a very serious problem,” said Miller. “They're going have to do what California is currently doing, issue IOUS," said Miller.

Despite frustrations, parents said they remain hopeful that legislators and the governor can reach a compromise.

"I don't think they will fail the voters and the parents of Arizona by neglecting their responsibility to get this measure passed," said Nicolson.

A representative for Arizona Charter Schools Association said lobbyists for charter schools have been talking to legislators this entire session, but nothing can really be done until Monday when the special session begins.

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