Proposed expenses of $430,175 were identified for the planned Suttons Bay Montessori Academy at Monday’s workshop meeting of the Suttons Bay Board of Education.

Hadley Vukasovich represented the Leelanau Montessori Parents at the meeting Monday night and provided a Power Point outline of a budget for 2010-11. The spending plan is based on an enrollment of 70 students and per-pupil state funding of $6,600.

“It includes no implementation (grant) funding, no Title I (federal aid) or special education moneys,” Vukasovich said.

The state allows for charter schools or academies to be authorized by local school districts, among other public bodies. As proposed, a charter board would run the day-to-day operations that would be funded with a per-pupil foundation allowance funneled through the local school board to the charter school. The foundation allowance would be the same per pupil stipend received by the authorizing party. The district would enter a contract with a charter that spells out details such as an agreement for the rental of space, utilities, goals the charter school aims to achieve, and the period in which to review the goals.

Authorizing districts also have the power to renew and revoke charter agreements.

Work on the proposal, which included integrating the state curricular benchmarks in the school offerings, is being funded through a grant from the state Department of Education. Implementation grants of up to $150,000 per year are available to new charter schools or academies — an issue not lost on school board members.

“I know you mean well, but when public districts are considering layoffs and charters and academies getting $150,000 a year for three years (to cover start up costs) … that doesn’t sit too well,” longtime board member Roger Merriman said. “I feel a little discomfort knowing how well (charters) are treated as opposed to the rest of us.”

Vukasovich countered that if the local charter group doesn’t get the funds, the money will just go to another community.

“Keep in mind, those are real dollars being paid for by taxpayers,” Merriman said.

As proposed the K-6 charter would rent space from Suttons Bay and pay for shared services such as foreign language and special education. Suttons Bay would also be compensated for materials and supplies used by the charter school. The Montessori program is currently operating at a $40,000 deficit, Murray said.

Montessori teachers would be hired by a third-party administrator and as such would not be included as part of the Suttons Bay Education Association. Cash stipends would be offered in lieu of health and retirement benefits, Vukasovich said. Two teachers on staff would continue to have administrative duties.

Although the Montessori group would prefer to have authorization in time to prepare for the 2010-11 school year, Superintendent Mike Murray said more time is needed for the board to perform “due diligence” in determining whether to authorize the charter.

A decision as to whether an application for a second planning grant will be made by the parents group will likely be addressed at coming school board meetings this spring. In the meantime, board members were encouraged to compile a list of questions for the Montessori Friends. The answers will help determine where to go next, Murray said.