Charter school is unfunded mandate

In his recent reporting, Bob Susnjara included, “Prairie Crossing ... mostly funded by state taxpayers.” This is a misleading statement.

When the state legislature granted the charter over the objections of both the Woodland and Fremont districts, it provided no funding for the school whatsoever. Rather, it required that the funding come from the local districts. The state accomplished that by redirecting state aid that would otherwise go to the local districts.

In fact, Prairie Crossing is supported by the taxpayers of Woodland and Fremont districts.

To suggest that taxpayers outside of those districts are bearing any burden in this case is misleading. The Prairie Crossing Charter School exists as an unfunded state mandate imposed on the taxpayers of the Fremont and Woodland School Districts over their objections.

Andrew T. Rieder

Hawthorn Woods