From an email just received:

“Section 7.03 of the agenda pertains to the BOE’s priorities for the ’14-’15 school year budget http://www.boarddocs.com/co/jeffco/Board.nsf/files/9HQPUD5F5C6D/$file/WORKSHEET%20BOE%20Prioritization.pdf. 

“You’ll see that – up for discussion – is an allocation of $2.5-$3.5M to charters.  This is NOT what voters approved in 2012 w/the mill levy override.  The state does not require Jeffco to allocate ANY of the mill money to charters.  Let’s not forget this important point – in a measure of good will and faith, Support Jeffco Schools (the citizen group that organized the 3A/3B campaign) negotiated with charters to provide them with $100 per student from the mill and that’s what Jeffco voters approved.  It is a clear violation of voter will & trust for this board to re-allocate those MLO funds in this way.  That $2.5M-$3.5M is earmarked to keep things as-is in our schools – so we don’t lose teachers, teacher-librarians, have increased class sizes, lose electives.  The 2012 MLO was not to provide anything outside of keeping things from getting worse – if that ~$3M is redirected to charter schools, what will that look like in our neighborhood schools?!  Something will have to give to afford that – my guess is – expect larger class sizes, less electives, part-time teacher-librarians – something’s gotta give – what will it be?!  Are you concerned?  You should be.”

The implications of ignoring a promise made to voters and spending MLO funds in a way that voters did NOT approve or even have a chance to review could impact Jeffco Schools and ALL children of our schools for years to come.  If a new board could change the promises made to voters randomly, would our community ever again take a chance on approving additional funding?

This following link shows the promises made – http://www.supportjeffcoschools.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/WhereWillJeffcoSchools3AMoneyGo.jpg