APS, charter schools at odds over share of tax funds

a-p-s officials say they will not be able to build new schools or renovate the old ones if a plan...  More »

a-p-s officials say they will not be able to build new schools or renovate the old ones if a plan is approved to give charter schools more of your tax dollars. many of the charter schools feel left out, and are proposing a drastic change to how schools are funded. jeff maher is live near san mateo and zuni to explain. jeff. highland high school is one of many a-p-s schools that are due for some major renovations in the future. but a-p-s officials don't expect that to minute thumbnail 10:04 pm happen if many of the charter schools get their way. the new mexico charter school coalition, which represents most of albuquerque's charter schools wants in on the 391-million dollar a-p-s bond election in february. they want a change in how they're funded for capital improvements - which include building new classrooms and making repairs. currently, a-p-s gives money to charter schools based on what the district considers a priority. many of the charter schools feel they don't get what they deserve. so now the coalition wants a bigger chunk of the money. it's proposing that a-p-s fund charter schools based on the number of students each school has. at tonight's school board meeting -- there was mixed reaction about the plan. "i am in favor of them coming into our educational system, i would love it very much" "the irony here is that we're actually giving the schools more money than they're deserving per head and we're taking money away from traditional schools, and that's a problem" a-p-s capital minute thumbnail 10:05 pm master plan director kizito wijenje says if the proposal were approved, many charter schools might also never get the improvements they need: "so if a school needed a half-a-million dollar roof and only had 300 kids, they're out of luck, so it doesn't make any sense" the a-p-s school board will begin debating over the funding formula this friday. we were unable to get in touch with the president of the charter school coalition today. live at highland high school.  « Less