Last week, Gadfly editorialized that "Putting most of the available energy, political capital, brain power and money into 'helping' districts engage in chartering rather than devoting those (limited) assets to advancing the frontier of independent charter schools: removing caps on their numbers and enrollments, creating multiple authorizers, strengthening school autonomy, securing adequate funding and facilities, etc.," could harm independent chartering. This week, independent charter school operators and would-be operators in Chicago were dismayed to discover that the Renaissance 2010 plan being pushed by Mayor Richard Daley would effectively cut per-pupil funding for new and existing charter schools, once a hefty new charge for building maintenance and rent is deducted. According to the plan, elementary schools would receive $4,325 per pupil and high schools would receive $5,075 after these fees are deducted - well below what schools now receive. Further, charters would be required to use district-employed janitors, security staff, and technical personnel who would answer to the Chicago Public Schools. Charter operator Rod Joslin told the Chicago Tribune, "I want to be empowered. I want the janitor to report to the principal, not someone at CPS. I don't want their security guards at all. I don't want their technology. And why should I pay rent to CPS? It's shameful they are even suggesting it." Dave Weinberg, director of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, told the Tribune that he's hopeful the formula will be changed. "These numbers are not encouraging," Weinberg said. "Some of the national funders are going to be quite dismayed."
