Public Charter Schools Seek to Join School Funding Suit in Tennessee

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jun/27/charter-schools-want-to-join-suit-for-school/

Several Memphis public charter schools are seeking to join the Memphis City Schools in a funding battle against the local city council. The school district filed suit following a city council vote to lower the property tax rate by cutting $66.2 million from the school district's anticipated $93.5 million allocation from the city for next fiscal year. The Tennessee Department of Education said the council's action was illegal and it plans to cut the $423 million in state funding the district receives if the money is not restored. City officials claim that the money given city schools is simply a "gratuity" and that responsibility for funding lies with the Shelby County Commission. For public charter schools, the issue is more pressing, said State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, a member of the governing board for a public charter school. They do not have a healthy reserves fund to help keep things afloat like the school district. "It's a lot more life-and-death," he said. "We are trying to keep the urgency in front of the chancellor."

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal
Date: 06/27/2008