EAST CHICAGO | A local charter school contends its expansion plans have been curtailed by the East Chicago Plan Commission.

Charlotte Jackson, director of the East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy, said the school offers classes to children up to sixth grade, but the charter calls for it to expand to eighth grade.

Academy representatives discussed the expansion project almost a year ago, on Feb. 12, at a Plan Commission workshop session, where architect Hutton & Hutton, of Hammond, presented the design.

According to the minutes, the project was favorably recommended by City Planner Richard Morrisroe, but the Plan Commission voted against it at its Feb. 20 regular meeting.

Jackson said the academy was never given a reason why the Plan Commission denied the request.

"We believe they were influenced by comments made by the East Chicago school superintendent," she said.

City Planner Richard Morrisroe offered no comment regarding Jackson's remark.

However, meeting minutes show that Plan Commission Vice President Charles Pacurar asked for Superintendent Juan Anaya's opinion about the charter school's request for expansion.

Pacurar also said he was concerned that charter schools were a "financial burden" on the public schools.

According to the Feb. 20 minutes, Anaya said both public school entities are competing for the same dollars, but charter schools don't have the same constraints.

"Charter schools can't serve special needs students. They don't have students who are severely handicapped. We don't turn our backs on these children," Anaya said.

East Chicago school officials said 484 East Chicago students have enrolled in charter schools throughout the state, representing nearly $3.5 million in lost revenue.

School officials said the cost to educate an East Chicago public school student is $7,240, whether in traditional public schools or a public charter school.

Anaya said if the public schools had that money, they could increase the capabilities of their schools and the academic level of students.

East Chicago school officials have publicly talked about money problems for the last few months, blaming much of that on late property tax collections.

Kimb Stewart, Indiana Department of Education Charter School consultant, said charter schools are public schools and receive public funding, offering choices to parents.

"They may not establish admissions policies or limit admissions in any manner in which a public school is not permitted to establish admissions policies or limit student admissions according to Indiana Code 20-24-5-4," she said, quoting law.

She said charter schools also are obligated by federal charter school law to serve students with special needs.

Jackson said the academy does have students with special needs, and has a resource teacher to help address those needs, as well as therapists who visit the school.

In the time the academy has been opened, Jackson said it has made a number of academic gains, particularly on ISTEP-Plus.

The academy has an enrollment of 333 students and 19 teachers.

Jackson said parents have been clamoring to see the school expand, and they hope to "resolve the issue" and get approval to expand their building.