Meyer Introduces Charter-School Bill

Rep. Wayne Meyer on Wednesday introduced legislation to the House Education Committee that clarifies where charter schools fit into the public school system.

“This bill re-emphasizes that a charter school is operated independently of any school board or the state board,” said Meyer, R-Rathdrum. “The school is responsible for setting its own budget and employee pay.”

The chairman of the committee, Rep. Fred Tillman, R-Boise, said that defining who has jurisdiction over charter schools has been a statewide problem.

“I think every charter school goes through this, from Nampa to Coeur d’Alene to Moscow,” he said. “School districts are concerned about how much they will be liable for.”

A hearing on the bill is expected sometime next week.