Charter-school dream dashed

After Ogden School District denied Riverside's application in October because the district was already working on the New Century partnership when Riverside put in its application, organizers were hopeful that state board approval would override the district's decision.

That seemed likely after a 4-1 recommendation from the board's law and policy committee. But in a rare turnaround, the Board of Education voted to deny the application in an 8-6 vote.

"(The board) kicked an entire city in the face," said Scott Brown, Ogden city manager of business development.

But Darrell White, education deputy in the governor's office who has also worked as a consultant with New Century high schools, said the decision is a great outcome.

He said that with the New Century school already under way, another charter school thrown in the mix would pull too many students away from the existing schools and might confuse parents.

It would be better to first get the New Century school off the ground and then find a way to consolidate its strengths with Riverside, said David Moss, state board member.

Nonetheless, board member Denis Morrill said Riverside's application was the best he had seen come through, and some board members were reluctant to see it die.

After the application was denied, the board moved to approve Riverside in one year after the school found a way to work with New Century, but it later withdrew the motion when Brown, who is also Riverside's president, declined interest.

"We are just two very different initiatives," said Rick Johnson, vice president of Riverside Tech's board of directors. "They set back a significant and innovative community effort. Ogden is the loser — underprivileged kids are the victims."

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