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Charter school budgets have won another year of approval, but Albuquerque Board of Education says enough is enough.

Albuquerque Public Schools can't handle the expense of additional charter schools, board members said Wednesday. Calling once again for a moratorium on new charter schools in the district, they said the 36 existing schools create enough choices for parents and their children.

The board approved a total budget for the coming year of $58.9 million, but said if the state wants more charter schools in the district, the state can fund the initial cost to get them up and running.

Funding new charter school programs at the same rate, which some members dubbed the "Cadillac version," would cost $200 million. The "Hyundai version" would cost $50 million to $100 million by 2010, the board concluded after looking over the proposed budget.

With only 7 percent of the APS student population enrolled in charter schools, the board can't see spending $200 million - roughly 20 percent of its capital budget - on the current charter school body.

Board member Robert Lucero said the charter schools are costing more each year. "We have roofs that are leaking and overcrowding," which are more pressing matters, he said.

The board deferred action on the most controversial issue of the meeting, a proposed change in the way school administrators notify parents of failing students. The proposal follows the decision by an APS administrator to change a Rio Grande High School senior's failing grade to a D, allowing him to graduate.

The boy's parents said they didn't get adequate notice to encourage their son to do better.

The teacher, whose grade was overturned, filed a grievance with her union, which is still pending.

The board approved more than two dozen changes to the student handbook, but postponed a wording change on parental notification until the Rio Grande High School arbitration is complete.

However, an amendment introduced by board member Mary Lee Martin mandates the board to vote on the handbook wording change if the arbitration has not been resolved by the first day of school.

Board member Martin Esquivel proposed language saying failure to notify parents of a student's absences "will not" be grounds for a grade change.

The board postponed action on the advice of its attorney.

"We could have been a little more courageous tonight," Esquivel said.

The shuffling of principals will occur, despite protest from parents, students and teachers.

"Change is hard; change is difficult," Elizabeth Everitt, APS superintendent, said.

More than a dozen people in the Jefferson Middle School community protested outside the board meeting beforehand. Several spoke to the board regarding the transfer of their principal, Ivy Langan, but the board had little reaction.

The board also created the Blue Ribbon Safety Commission, in response to a report about officers' presence in schools. Members include Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and Cibola High School's student body president. The committee will meet four times before the August APS board meeting.