Rather than hypothetical financial impacts, the true bottom line to education is student achievement.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the opinion of Anna Cole, a volunteer hoping the Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 School District will approve a Children\u2019s Kiva Montessori Charter School. Cole believes the added choice of a charter school would ultimately help raise the educational bar across the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen there\u2019s an option, parents pay more attention to the schools,\u201d Cole said. \u201cThat\u2019s good for the whole community.\u201d<\/p>\n
School board members are slated to address the issue at a 6 p.m. work session today at the old Downey School building.<\/p>\n
Initial plans were to house the charter school at the Cortez Cultural Center, but school superintendent Alex Carter is hopeful charter school organizers would be open to creating an innovation school instead. He fears the charter school would reduce the district\u2019s overall funding by some $750,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe district is already crippled,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re operating on a bare-bones budget and already spending our rainy-day funds.\u201d<\/p>\n
As school district and charter school officials explore options, Cole said she\u2019s thankful the community is debating education.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should be fired up about our schools,\u201d Cole said. \u201cWe have to stop complaining, and work to find a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Children\u2019s Kiva Montessori School would serve children in grades K-6. If approved, the school is expected to grow to include a middle school program in subsequent years.<\/p>\n
In addition to discussing charter school options, the school board will also receive design updates on the new $33.6 million high school during the session.<\/p>\n
The school board\u2019s regular monthly meeting, starting at 7 p.m., follows the work session.<\/p>\n