Charter school bill evolves

March 10, 2011

As the proposed bill to lift the state's cap on charter schools continues to evolve, opponents to the legislation say it won't protect already-strained resources in the school system.

The battle over charter school funding is far from finished for schools in Catawba County, whose leaders argue that Senate Bill 8 could take away more students and funding from school systems.

"It's the worst time to create a process of opening new schools, because we can't take care of the ones we've got now," said Newton-Conover City Schools superintendent Dr. Barry Redmond.

North Carolina currently allows only 100 charter schools in the state, but Senate Bill 8 proposes that cap be lifted to "increase educational opportunities for the children of North Carolina."

Sen. Austin Allran, who represents Catawba and Iredell counties, is in favor of lifting the charter school cap.

"I think we need choice in education," Allran said. "I believe in parental choice."