FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
September 9, 2010
Contact:
Susan Tillotson
PR Representative
(719) 495-7654 or (760) 415-4032
Charter School Institute Board of Directors Opposes Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101
Denver, CO—The Charter School Institute (CSI) Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to opposed three measures on the November statewide ballot at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on August 17, 2010. The Board currently has seven members with two vacancies.
“We believe Proposition 101, and Amendments 60 and 61 are not in the best interest of Colorado students and citizens,” said Wayne Eckerling, chairman of the CSI Board of Directors. “Individually and collectively, these three measures are irresponsible. They would cut funding even further to school districts as well as charter schools and limit the ability of schools to make improvements to its facilities. These measures have the potential to ruin the ability of all schools to make plans and improvements for the future, and to provide parents and students with the quality school options they have come to expect and deserve.”
Although the figures are preliminary and may need further review, it is estimated that these measures would create a $4.2 billion state and local deficit. In addition, a conservative estimate indicates that 8,000 teachers positions statewide will be eliminated which would severely impact the number of students in a classroom.
The passage of these measures, particularly Proposition 101 and Amendment 60 would result in lost revenue that the state would have to replace. Given Colorado’s across-the-board cuts last year, it appears the state will not have the capacity to assist the school districts with this massive shortfall.
Charter School Institute:
The Charter School Institute is a charter school authorizer throughout the state of Colorado focusing its efforts on building high performing public charter schools through authorizing practices that strive to promote a variety of successful and innovative educational models. It currently manages eighteen charters with twenty-one public charter schools including some of its schools that serve at-risk students.
The full text of the resolution approved by the Charter School Institute Board of Directors follows:
COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE
Resolution Number: 10-013
Resolution in Opposition to Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 & 61
Whereas, proposition 101and Amendments 60 and 61 are three measures appearing on the November statewide ballot that would significantly damage Colorado’s state and local governments from funding their most basic level of services related to safety, education and transportation, and;
Whereas, these measures would reduce at least $1 billion annually in state taxes, roll back half of all school property taxes statewide and drastically limit government's ability to construct new buildings, and;
Whereas, one of the many components of Proposition 101 reduces the vehicle registration fee (annual license plate fee) drastically compared to prior years, a provision that alone would undermine Colorado's ability to maintain funding to its charter schools, school districts, and general infrastructure, and;
Whereas, Amendment 60 is an amendment to TABOR and includes several major changes in property tax policy, including: a 50% reduction in school district mill levies with a required State back-fill and;
Whereas, one of the many components of Amendment 61 severely limits the means by which state and regional governments are able to make future improvements to its charter schools, brick and mortar public schools, cities and counties, and;
Whereas, the cumulative nature of the three measures make drastic and far reaching changes that will leave the Colorado courts to struggle with these issues for years to come. While this struggle plays out in the courts, these amendments could severely limit the ability of Colorado governments to finance public projects in the capital markets. This will likely ensure that charter schools, and school districts in general will suffer as a result of the inevitable reduction in overall funding available for education;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of the Charter School Institute does hereby oppose the three ballot measures known as Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61 and urge the defeat of these measure at the November 2, 2010 General Election.
NEWS RELEASE
September 9, 2010
Contact:
Susan Tillotson
PR Representative
(719) 495-7654 or (760) 415-4032
Charter School Institute Board of Directors Opposes Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101
Denver, CO—The Charter School Institute (CSI) Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to opposed three measures on the November statewide ballot at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on August 17, 2010. The Board currently has seven members with two vacancies.
“We believe Proposition 101, and Amendments 60 and 61 are not in the best interest of Colorado students and citizens,” said Wayne Eckerling, chairman of the CSI Board of Directors. “Individually and collectively, these three measures are irresponsible. They would cut funding even further to school districts as well as charter schools and limit the ability of schools to make improvements to its facilities. These measures have the potential to ruin the ability of all schools to make plans and improvements for the future, and to provide parents and students with the quality school options they have come to expect and deserve.”
Although the figures are preliminary and may need further review, it is estimated that these measures would create a $4.2 billion state and local deficit. In addition, a conservative estimate indicates that 8,000 teachers positions statewide will be eliminated which would severely impact the number of students in a classroom.
The passage of these measures, particularly Proposition 101 and Amendment 60 would result in lost revenue that the state would have to replace. Given Colorado’s across-the-board cuts last year, it appears the state will not have the capacity to assist the school districts with this massive shortfall.
Charter School Institute:
The Charter School Institute is a charter school authorizer throughout the state of Colorado focusing its efforts on building high performing public charter schools through authorizing practices that strive to promote a variety of successful and innovative educational models. It currently manages eighteen charters with twenty-one public charter schools including some of its schools that serve at-risk students.
The full text of the resolution approved by the Charter School Institute Board of Directors follows:
COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE
Resolution Number: 10-013
Resolution in Opposition to Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 & 61
Whereas, proposition 101and Amendments 60 and 61 are three measures appearing on the November statewide ballot that would significantly damage Colorado’s state and local governments from funding their most basic level of services related to safety, education and transportation, and;
Whereas, these measures would reduce at least $1 billion annually in state taxes, roll back half of all school property taxes statewide and drastically limit government's ability to construct new buildings, and;
Whereas, one of the many components of Proposition 101 reduces the vehicle registration fee (annual license plate fee) drastically compared to prior years, a provision that alone would undermine Colorado's ability to maintain funding to its charter schools, school districts, and general infrastructure, and;
Whereas, Amendment 60 is an amendment to TABOR and includes several major changes in property tax policy, including: a 50% reduction in school district mill levies with a required State back-fill and;
Whereas, one of the many components of Amendment 61 severely limits the means by which state and regional governments are able to make future improvements to its charter schools, brick and mortar public schools, cities and counties, and;
Whereas, the cumulative nature of the three measures make drastic and far reaching changes that will leave the Colorado courts to struggle with these issues for years to come. While this struggle plays out in the courts, these amendments could severely limit the ability of Colorado governments to finance public projects in the capital markets. This will likely ensure that charter schools, and school districts in general will suffer as a result of the inevitable reduction in overall funding available for education;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of the Charter School Institute does hereby oppose the three ballot measures known as Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61 and urge the defeat of these measure at the November 2, 2010 General Election.
