Following a two-and-a-half hour question and answer session Wednesday, Mauston School Board members voted to approve the first steps of a charter high school.

In a vote of four in favor, and

two opposed, the group authorized the pursuit of charter school planning grant monies for the purpose of opening a charter school in the School District of Mauston in the fall of 2011.

Board members had submitted questions to the group of teachers and administrators who were the impetus for starting the school. Many of the questions involved funding.

Leah Luke, high school Spanish teacher, said, “The money was awarded to Wisconsin in Sept. 2009. Those individual districts that are innovative will be able to get the money.”

Lynnette Livingston, director of instruction, said she had been in a meeting Tuesday with a Department of Public Instruction representative.

She said, “The idea of entering into a resolution when awarded the planning grant and if [only] five students show up, as long as we kept up our end of the bargain, we would not have to pay the grant money back to the state.”

Mauston High School Assistant Principal Melissa Murray said the first portion of grant money would be awarded as professional development stipends for teachers.

The second allotment, to be used for purchasing equipment such as desks, computers and chairs, would not be awarded if the charter school were not to move forward.

The possibility of having to provide a separate building off school district property for the charter school was another concern for the board.

Carrie Buss, board president, asked if it could possibly be located in the district such as within the high school building, which is not currently filled to capacity.

Murray said it could be if the charter school appeared to be its own school and have autonomy.

Board member Chris Arens, who along with David Linsmeyer voted against the charter school, said, “We were told it could not be on district property. It is a huge issue if there’s another building and we would need more tax money [for rent].”

Jim Cauley, board treasurer who abstained from voting, said, “What if the student population switched to the charter school? What if we had 20 to 25 students leave? We have declining enrollment in the high school, below 500 now and if it were 460 next year, how would we explain to the taxpayers that we are paying rent?”

He asked how the board could justify rent, maintenance and snow plowing at another facility.

He added that when he went to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards convention in January, DPI representatives said it could not be on school property and then in February, they said it was okay.

He said, “They already changed their minds from January to February. Will they change it again? We are talking about state and federal money.”

Murray said the DPI wants to open 130 more charter schools in Wisconsin and they are trying to be more adaptable. She added if the board wants it on school property, it can work that way.

Board members and charter school advocates were pleased with the decision to bring the school to the district. Buss said, “I am really proud to talk about education, and it is innovative and exciting.”

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