(AJC) — Ten-day teacher furloughs. No art or music classes. Computer purchases ditched to cover the costs of basic supplies. Some of Georgia’s independent state charter schools are facing months-long funding lags — and scaled-back ambitions — as they struggle to operate on hundreds of thousands of dollars less than they need. The cash flow problem is causing some campuses to cut programs and ask staff to work after school for free. Ivy Preparatory Academy in Norcross, the first state charter school for girls, added 160 new students this fall, but four months later it hasn’t received state money to pay for the growth. Ivy Prep Head of School Nina Gilbert said the school, still waiting for one-third of its state funding, had to take out a $250,000 bridge loan to cover expenses.
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