By AMY K. STEWART
Standard-Examiner staff
SALT LAKE CITY - A request from a Logan charter school to boost its enrollment has prompted the state Board of Education's Law and Policy Committee to consider suggesting the board amend state rules regarding charter schools.
Representatives of Thomas Edison Charter School want to increase its enrollment from 365 to 480 students.
"This would provide more openings for students in the community and help us become more financially stable," said Thomas Edison School Board President Jim Peterson.
Charter schools operate much like private schools but use state funding and abide by state rules, just as public schools do.
However, state board member Deniscq Morrill of Taylorsville, in a meeting Friday, said he believes school districts in which the charter school resides should be notified of potential enrollment-increase requests before the request is approved by the state. This is because charter school enrollment can affect the regular school enrollment, he said.
"I don't want the district to feel ambushed," Morrill said.
Board member David Moss, of Sandy, agreed.
"We should at least allow the district the opportunity to respond," he said.
In this case, Cache and Logan school districts would be informed of the charter school's enrollment boost request.
Board member Janet Cannon, of Salt Lake City, suggested the committee not decide on the Thomas Edison request until the committee can study a possible amendment to its state charter-school rules regarding enrollment-increase approval.
The committee agreed to continue the item until next month's state board meeting.