By Vershal Hogan & Emily Lane

NATCHEZ — Charter schools may be the inevitable next option in communities with public school districts similar to the Natchez-Adams School District, some local district school board members said.

But local school board members and educators are worried if state legislators aren’t careful, the existing public schools’ bottom line could take a hit they can’t afford.

The Mississippi Senate passed a bill, SB 2401, Feb. 22 that would give authority to a statewide board to approve and monitor changes at charter schools.

A similar House Bill 888 died Thursday when it expired. The House Bill would have given local school boards authority to oversee charter schools.

Sen. Melanie Sojourner, R-Natchez, said she is very supportive of the charter school concept.

“I don’t think charter schools alone are going to fix all of our public education woes, but I do think a charter school bill is a step in the right direction,” Sojourner said.

Charter schools are public schools that operate with freedom from many of the local and state regulations that apply to traditional public schools, such as certain teacher certifications, according to a U.S. Department of Education website. They are funded with public dollars and also sponsored by local, state or other organizations that monitor their quality.

Unlike charter schools, magnet schools focus on a specific subject, such as science or the arts. They operate according to certain models, such as career academies or a school-within-a-school. Some magnet schools require students to take an entrance exam, while others are open to students who have an interest.

Sojourner said she spoke with a number of people involved in the educational field throughout her district, and that the district has different levels of school success.

“It is scary because it means doing things differently than we have in the past. But when a charter school bill passes, we are not going to see a mass influx of charter schools overnight,” Sojourner said.

“A really rural county like Franklin, that is rural, is not necessarily one of the top (school districts) in the state but isn’t having a lot of problems, you’re not likely to see a charter school there.”

The bill as it passed the Senate, Sojourner said, will not likely be the same by the time it passes the House and will have to go to joint conference to have the differences ironed out. Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, said he reserved an opinion about the bill until it leaves the House education committee, but that he supports the idea of charter schools.

“I think there are many groups out there that believe that the only way to improve education is through more money, and I simply do not believe that,” Mims said. “Money does not solve all our educational problems, and I think this could a small piece of the puzzle to start that.”

But Natchez High School Principal Cleveland Moore said the high school is already operating on a vey lean budget, and loss of anymore funds to cover operational costs would “really hurt us,’” Moore said.

For example, Moore said the school’s janitors have been instructed to monitor the paper towels, toilet paper, cleanser and other custodial products, because the school budget doesn’t have room to purchase more than what’s budgeted.

“In every area we’re having to cut costs and (operate) as streamlined as possible to make sure able to finish the year out,” Moore said.

Sen. Kelvin Butler, D-Magnolia, said he is not against the charter school concept, but that he is concerned about doing due diligence before rolling out legislation of such magnitude.