MANCHESTER — Members of the School Committee might decide tonight whether to accept the realities of state law and rescind a decision that provided an additional $82,000 for teachers' salaries during this year's budget battle.

In its vote on school spending for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the board cut money to pay for providing transportation to Manchester students who attend charter schools within the city.

The 9-5 vote came after the board was told of a state law that required the district to provide transportation to in-district students who attend charter schools within the district boundaries.

The elimination of charter school transportation was part of a package of cuts that freed up some $140,000 to rehire teachers tabbed for layoff.

Last Monday, state Education Commissioner Virginia Barry wrote to Superintendent Thomas Brennan to warn that the law passed this year “explicitly requires the district to fund such costs.”

Barry also noted that the 180 days of transportation the city is required to provide to charter schools “do not have to correspond with the 180 days set by the district.”

Two of the three charter schools in Manchester, Mill Falls and Polaris, track the city school calendar.

But Making Community Connections charter school uses a personalized student schedule, raising the issue of whether the city is required to roll otherwise idle buses for those students when city schools are closed.

Barry suggested that the School Department “coordinate where possible” the transportation for the Community Connections school.

The board also will receive the latest personnel report from Brennan.

Personnel issues have become controversial, recently, in light of budget-driven staffing cuts and issues with appointments of new principals at city schools.

The top post at the McLaughlin School had to be re-advertised after an error in the job posting led to the appointment of a principal who did not meet prerequisites set by the school board.

bsmith@unionleader.com