Charter schools seek lottery funds

by Kerra L. Bolton
Asheville Citizen-Times
Monday, Nov. 21, 2005


Charter school parents and administrators are petitioning state lawmakers to get a slice of lottery proceeds for school construction and other building needs.

North Carolina has 100 charter schools with 30,000 students. Under current state law, charter schools cannot receive state money to purchase or maintain buildings.

Getting a chunk of lottery proceeds would free up charter schools to reinvest in teacher salaries, enrichment programs and developing a better library, said Jackie Williams, executive director of Evergreen Community Charter School in Asheville.

“We have a very, very tight budget,” Williams said. “That means our teachers don’t get paid as other state employees. The state spends less money on a child in a charter school than in another publicly funded school.”



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