LA PLATA, Md. — Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA), Charles County’s public charter middle school, is seeking key changes to its charter agreement with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) to gain more flexibility in how it operates. During the April 28, 2025, Board of Education work session, PISOTA and district officials shared their views, but no changes were finalized.
PISOTA is now in its second year of a five-year charter set to end in 2028. PISOTA leaders are asking to update the current agreement by breaking it into three parts: a main contract with basic terms, a yearly services agreement (covering transportation and operations), and an administrative manual.
“This charter agreement that is meant to provide all of the operational terms for our school really regulates how we run our school,” said PISOTA CEO Angelica Jackson. “And we realized that how the charter agreement is currently written and structured does not work for our school.”
Enrollment and Funding Challenges at the Forefront
A central concern for PISOTA is the impact of student enrollment on its budget. As a charter school with a waitlist, PISOTA is requesting the ability to enroll students year-round if a seat becomes available, a provision not currently permitted under the existing agreement. Presently, students can only be admitted up to Sept. 15 each school year.
Jackson said this restriction limits access and complicates budgeting. “We still have staff for 250, so we lose that funding. But then we’re still required to pay for our staffing for 250.”
This policy directly affects finances. PISOTA receives funding every quarter based on the previous quarter’s enrollment. If students leave midyear, the school’s funding decreases, even though staffing costs remain constant.
Navarro pointed out that paying for students who are no longer enrolled is problematic from a taxpayer accountability standpoint. She said that midyear enrollment flexibility, such as in January, could help offset these issues, although it can present academic hurdles.
Some courses, such as health, may only be offered early in the year, which can make it difficult for late entrants to meet curriculum requirements.
Other Operational Issues Remain
Transportation costs are another unresolved issue. “We are paying the most in the state of Maryland for charter schools for transportation,” Jackson said. She noted that PISOTA would like to explore alternate options beyond CCPS transportation services. In many other Maryland jurisdictions, charter schools either provide their own transportation or do not offer it at all, allowing the funds allocated for transportation to remain in the school’s budget to help with facilities, staffing, and curriculum needs.
Superintendent Navarro emphasized the need for clarity and equity. “Does it come with consequences for certain communities?” she asked. “More specifics need to come forward.”
Board members echoed this concern. They noted that many families may not be able to transport their children to and from school due to return-to-office work mandates and PISOTA’s midday dismissal time. There was concern that eliminating transportation services could reduce accessibility for students.
Board President Yonelle Moore Lee also cautioned against fast-tracking changes. “I don’t want us to kind of rush and say, yes, we have an agreement before the end of the school year … it is a discussion we have to have in the public,” she said, citing that three public discussions may be needed.
However, CCPS staff attorney Eric Schwartz clarified that the board is not required to hold three meetings for contract amendments. While public input is important, the number of discussions is ultimately at the board’s discretion.
No decisions were made during the meeting. Board members stated that they would like to see more details before voting on the changes. For now, the existing charter remains in effect.
PISOTA officials stated that they hope to have the revised charter agreement resolved before the 2025–26 school year.
Watch the CCPS Board Work Session for April 28, 2025, here.
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