Mansfield School Committee Votes Against Charter School Cap Removal

MANSFIELD, MA — The Mansfield School Committee has joined over 100 other school districts in the state in opposing Question 2.

Tuesday night, the committee voted 5-0 to oppose the proposed removal of the charter school cap. If approved by the voters, Question 2 would allow for up to 12 new Massachusetts charter schools a year with no limit on total schools. There are currently 78 charter schools in the state.

“A lot of it from a school committee perspective comes down to funding and how the funding is determined, directed, and is pulled out of school,” Committee chairperson Kiera O'Neil said.

Funding for charter schools is done on a per pupil basis, with the school districts covering the costs. The committee said they lose about $1.3 million a year to charter schools with minimal reimbursements from the state.

“Until the funding formula is address, there is no way the school committee can endorse (Question 2) because it’s just going to drain funds from public schools,” committee member Lynn Cavicchi said.

Mansfield voters will have their say on the issue on Election Day on Nov. 8.

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