Panama City- Whether Bay County's charter schools are effective depends on who you ask. It's no doubt they're controversial and anytime the subject is up for discussion, the claws come out.

"You're representing me, not the charter schools," said one concerned resident.

Tuesday's Bay County School Board workshop was no different.

"It will make it harder for charter schools to operate," said another concered resident.

Board members discussed several changes the district wants to make to the county's charter schools policies and procedures. Among them include reducing the charter application time from year-round to just one month. The district also wants to add school location to the consideration process.

Board members Ryan Neves said the changes will help the local system comply with the state standards.

"You need stuff in writing and that's just a smart thing to do in any kind of a contract," said Neves.

Charter supporters outright denied that claim.

"It was based on termination, elimination and prevention," said Bay Haven Chief Education Officer Tim Kitts.

Kitts said the district's wording is manipulative.

"Some of the policy as it's written goes beyond statute," said Kitts.

This wasn't the first time charter schools and the district have butted heads. They've always appeared to be at odds, and by Tuesday's actions it doesn't look like they'll see eye to eye on everything anytime soon.

"I'm telling you I can't agree with a lot of the content of this policy," said Kitts.

"We need to make sure that there's a give and a take," said Neves.

School board members decided to postpone advertising the proposed changes. In the meantime they'll form a joint committeein an attempt to reach a compromise.