Shiocton considers charter school cuts
By: Bret Lemoine
Updated: March 18, 2013
SHIOCTON, Wis. (WFRV) The Shiocton School Board will close a relatively new charter school in the district. The board voted to close the school late Monday night. All but one of one school board member voted to shut down the school. The Shiocton International Leadership Academy, SILA for short, still has a year left of federal grant money. Lots of parents voiced concern about the future of the school and were very upset after the decision was announced.
The school services about 50 students between 6th and 12th grade. Many parents fear Governor Walker's recent budget proposal prompted the school board to consider the cut. In his budget address last month, Walker proposed school boards can no longer have control over charter schools. He also froze revenue limits for Wisconsin schools.
SILA was operating under a federal grant that will go dry at the end of this school year. It will cost an estimated 200-thousand dollars to keep running for next year. SILA offers group learning... and utilizes new technology in the classroom.
During a lengthy public comment period at tonight's meeting, two parents told the board to cut the program due to a lack of funding. The majority, however, urged them to keep it.






