Compromise reached in Odyssey Charter School payment from state

Monday, May 15, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- A compromise has been worked out between the state Department of Education and the Odyssey Charter School to permit the school to continue operation while a dispute over state payments is worked out.

Doug Thunder, deputy superintendent of public instruction for finance, said today the two sides reached agreement in late April, and attorneys are working out the language.

Odyssey officials reported they had 326 students on Sept. 17, the day the state uses to compute enrollment for payments. But auditors for the department said later the records and logs show only 55 students on that date. That means the state made an overpayment of $850,000 during the school year.

The department notified Odyssey it was withholding the April 1 payment of $370,000. Odyssey then filed suit and sought an injunction.

But Thunder said a compromise was reached. The state, he said, has sent a "small payment" to Odyssey.

"We don't question they were working with 326 students throughout the year, but the issue is at count day," Thunder said. "We're working with them to verify that enrollment as of count day. We're trying to keep the school open. This will get them over the hump."

Students work at home on computers to complete assigned work. A teacher visits each student at least once a week.