Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie1
I remember this being very controversial when it was passed many years ago in Florida. It was meant to give all students in the state the same opportunity for a quality education no matter where they lived. Prior, the "richer" districts had the most money to spend on education while the "poorer" districts struggled to meet the minimum requirements. I don't know the numbers but I would guess that based on the tax base and the population of school age children in Sumter County, the school district here gets a much smaller state payment than most school districts in the state. Unfortunately, the difference in cost per child then has to be paid by the Sumter County tax payers. That's just the way it is. I am just glad we have GREAT SCHOOLS in this area! This is not true in a lot of Florida who have the same amount to spend per student!
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Agreed. And I'd add that those great schools consistently rank 95% - 96% and above when compared to both other charter schools and all other public schools nationally.
The importance of this cannot be overestimated. TV is growing (really!!) and people are needed to work in the service industries catering to us geezers. The charter schools here are available to children of people who work or own businesses here, and if parents truly care about the quality of education their children receive, then these schools are one of the best ways possible to attract and keep quality employees. I don't mind paying a little extra for that: prior to our move here (and one of the reasons FOR the move) was a $1,200 jump in my property taxes due to a school bond referendum passing for a new school that most agreed wasn't needed. But hey, it's Minnesota, so...