Charter Schools Fight for MCS Funding

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The hold-up in funding Memphis City Schools this year by the city council is starting to trickle down. The district warned Charter Schools they might not see the same amount of funding from the district in a few weeks. The warning had parents and students marching to city hall.

Memphis City Charter Schools feel like they're marching into battle, fighting for students who need them the most.

Reverend Anthony Anderson, the CEO of the Memphis Business Academy, is talking about organizing the troops. Anderson was among dozens of other charter school leaders, parents, and students at Tuesday's city council meeting.

They wanted the council to know they're watching and desperately waiting for the $50 million owed to Memphis City Schools for this school year.

"We were told if funding is not re-instated from the city council, the funding that they were promised and that is owed to them, then they'll have to make more cuts," said Anderson. "Unfortunately some of those cuts would involve charter schools."

Right now, charter school funding stands at $7,600 dollars a student. Anderson says MCS would cut that by about $500 starting April 20th.

School Board President Martavius Jones says there was no way the district could take a reduction and not pass it along.

Anderson says, he understands that answer. "We're not upset at MCS. Certain council people are flipping the discussion. The discussion is not charter schools versus Memphis City Schools."

In this fight, it looks like schools versus city council.

"If those monies are not re-instated we have very organized parents groups and we will have them voting, I promise you," said Anderson.

The council did allow some of the charter school members to speak at Tuesday's meeting, although the council was not voting on how to fund Memphis City Schools at that time.