D'Arbonne Woods Charter School Starting Late
By: Brittney Johnson
Updated: August 17, 2009
Construction delays are pushing back the start of the school year for students at D'Arbonne Woods Charter School.
Executive Director Corie Williams said, "Always safety of the kids is first. safety of the staff. We feel like were just in a better position by postponing it 10 days that way we have everything cleaned up."
But many are happy the school is opening at all. The charter was approved in 2007. But by the time it was reauthorized this year, state law changed the way charter schools are funded. So instead of getting all of it's money from the state, Union Parish has to fork over nearly half a million dollars.
It's construction that's pushing back the first day of school, not the controversy over how the school is being funded. The school will open its doors August 26th with full funding from the state.
Superintendent Steven Dozier challenged the law and tried to stop the school from opening this year. But the judge ruled in favor of D'Arbonne Woods Charter. Dozier says the parish can't afford to lose money to charter school.
Steven Dozier said, "Yea, you can take your money, but the when it comes to it you're going to affect a bigger group of kids because we won't have the funding to keep running the same programs."
Dozier says he is still trying to reverse the ruling. But as it stands, Williams says she and her staff are focused on opening their doors to students. "
Williams said, "Union Parish may have some issues they need to work through but we're moving full speed ahead. Kids are starting, teachers are ready and staff is excited. So it's going to be a good school year."
Executive Director Corie Williams said, "Always safety of the kids is first. safety of the staff. We feel like were just in a better position by postponing it 10 days that way we have everything cleaned up."
But many are happy the school is opening at all. The charter was approved in 2007. But by the time it was reauthorized this year, state law changed the way charter schools are funded. So instead of getting all of it's money from the state, Union Parish has to fork over nearly half a million dollars.
It's construction that's pushing back the first day of school, not the controversy over how the school is being funded. The school will open its doors August 26th with full funding from the state.
Superintendent Steven Dozier challenged the law and tried to stop the school from opening this year. But the judge ruled in favor of D'Arbonne Woods Charter. Dozier says the parish can't afford to lose money to charter school.
Steven Dozier said, "Yea, you can take your money, but the when it comes to it you're going to affect a bigger group of kids because we won't have the funding to keep running the same programs."
Dozier says he is still trying to reverse the ruling. But as it stands, Williams says she and her staff are focused on opening their doors to students. "
Williams said, "Union Parish may have some issues they need to work through but we're moving full speed ahead. Kids are starting, teachers are ready and staff is excited. So it's going to be a good school year."
