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<br />determine if the statute would allow the school to reserve 50% of the available seats for Ramsey <br />residents. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn replied he agrees, but the statute does not allow for that right now. He noted the <br />statute also reads that if you live within two miles of the charter school and five or more miles <br />from the closest school, then you will get preference in enrollment. There is a sliver of land in <br />Ramsey to the west of Armstrong and south of Highway 10 where a group of residents get <br />preference, but they go in with all the sibling preferences in the lottery process. The difference is <br />that charter schools do not have any geographical boundaries. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey left the worksession. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen inquired about Bethel's sponsorship of the charter school. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn explained every charter school is required to have a sponsor. There are a number <br />of options, including the Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit with over $1 million in assets, and <br />a two or four year education institution. The reason is to ensure that they are meeting the <br />mission and charter of the school and that the school is being fiscally responsible. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked if the sponsor financially supports the school. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn responded in the negative. He explained charter schools receive their funding like <br />other public schools. PACT Charter School is doing well retaining a 20% fund balance, which is <br />required by their bonding as well as their auditors. They have been very fiscally responsible and <br />successful. Their students do well and go on to two and four year colleges. PACT Charter <br />School is a good school to have in their city, and he believes another school similar to PACT <br />would be an asset in the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated he has friends with children that attend PACT and they speak highly <br />of the school. He asked how the proposed second charter school would differ from the current <br />school. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn indicated school representatives have spoken with City staff about this, and they <br />talked about an ecology focus. He knows that the City would like to preserve open spaces, etc. <br />and ecology is a popular direction to go now. His struggle with that is that what they have with <br />PACT works; they have 1,700 people that want what they are offering and he questions why they <br />should change it. They are currently looking to go the ecology route, but there are numerous <br />pieces to be resolved. The school needs to work with the Department of Education and their <br />sponsor. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec expressed his interest in the school partnering and sharing uses with the church. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn stated he appreciates the City's support and enthusiasm and he believes the school <br />is needed in the City of Ramsey. He indicated in discussions with the previous City <br />Administrator Jim Norman, there were concerns about the future uses for this particular piece of <br />land north of Central Park. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / May 22, 2007 <br />Page 4 of9 <br />