Morgan City Council wants more info on charter school

The Morgan City Council wants more information before agreeing to lease a portion of the old Shannon Elementary for use as a privately operated charter school.

A resolution on the agenda at Tuesday’s council meeting would have authorized Mayor Dragna to enter a lease agreement with Blended & Online School Solutions LLC of Florida. Under that agreement, the company would rent a portion of Shannon for five years followed by three successive five-year renewal options.

The company would pay the city $1,000 per student per year in rent for the first five years, growing to more than $1,300 per student by year 20. The agreement sets a minimum number of students, from 80 in the first year growing to 150 in year 20. The school would be for students in grades K-8.

Dragna spoke in favor in the agreement, especially since the City Council has already committed more than $100,000 to improving the building for the charter school.

Dragna said he’s been approached by many people happy about the prospect for a charter school. Prissy Davis, a former School Board employee said she first contacted Charter Schools USA about a school for Morgan City, agreed. She’s also heard from people interested in a charter school.

School Board members Andrew Mancuso of Morgan City and Lindsey Anslem of Bayou Vista spoke against the lease agreement.

Louisiana now allows a portion of per-pupil Minimum Foundation Program funding to follow students to pay for private schooling.

Mancuso argued that drawing students away from public schools would reduce funding, with ramifications for programs such as special education.

Anslem cautioned against taking steps that will be good for some students while hurting others.

Reaction on the council was mixed. Councilman the Rev. Ron Bias said he felt the council was rushing to judgment.

He suggested gathering more information, and the council and Dragna agreed to invite the Blended & Online School Solutions to answer questions about the charter school.