School board votes for change to application for renewal of charter schools

During the November 20 Matanuska-Susitna Borough School Board District (MSBSD) meeting, the members took up changes to Board Policy 6190, Charter Schools, which would make changes to the application for renewal of charter schools in the Mat-Su.

The proposed change removed clause that stated new charter schools petition would be approved if the school would not cause the number of charter schools operating within District limits to exceed the maximum number permitted under state law.

Additionally, a change that seemed to cause lengthy discussion was to the application for new charter schools applications for a given school year shall be due by October 1 preceding the school year in which operations are to commence.

Patty Farrin, Principal of American Charter Academy expressed her gratitude for the support that charter schools in the MSBSD receive, saying, “I am continually amazed at the support that charter schools receive from the district and the board in many areas,” she said, including program implementation, school management, and transportation. She also thanked the school board, Mat-Su Borough, and voters who supported the ballot measure in November.

“Truly, it’s a momentous time for charter schools in the Mat-Su Valley, and statewide,” she said, before expressing concerns about the board policies that could impact charter schools in the Mat-Su. “Making changes to a long-standing board policy is a reasonable endeavor, but when those changes stand to impede the renewal process for charter school applications and are not congruent with state statutes, its evidence that more time is needed to ensure any changes to the board policy are thoroughly vetted.”

She suggested that the policy stands as written and current contracts between charter schools in the district remain the same. She also urged the board to keep the established timeline in place.

MSBSD School board member Thomas Bergey said that as he reviewed the state statutes, and was concerned that if the changes were adopted as written and there were a conflict with the charter schools, there is only a limited amount of time between the adoption of the policy and the summer renewal for these schools in which to make any changes to the verbage as well as ensuring the schools and the board are not functioning in conflict.

“What flag is coming up for me here is that we have multiple existing contracts out here. I don’t have assurances that we have reviewed all of those contracts so that the proposed changes do not come in conflict with an exemption that we may have in an existing contract.” Bergey wanted to see a provision added that at a school’s individual renewal time and proposed an amendment to reflect some clarification.

“There is just opportunity, based on what I’m reading in the statute for us to run afoul of their contract, potentially.”

“It wouldn’t be fair for us to change board policy and then change anybody’s contract whenever we want to. That’s why the board policy has to be changed now,” said MSBSD Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani, agreeing that it would make sense to have some clarification. Bergey’s amendment was approved.

Other changes to the policy include adding that the Committee’s bylaws will outline the length of each term and the process for selecting and/or replacing committee members.

The changes to the board policy ultimately passed by a 5 to 1 vote with member Kendall Kruse being the sole “no” vote for the motion. Member Ole Larson was not available to vote.