From Deseret News archives:
2 charter schools itching to go
East Hollywood High, which will be in Granite School District, and Moab Community School in Moab are set to open in September and are now racing the clock to have everything ready before fall.
The charters will still need approval from the State Board of Education when that board meets on Friday but have gone forward in preparations — confident the state will agree with the charter board's decision.
Brian Allen, Charter School Board president, said one of the strengths of the new board is its ability to take action and move on issues — evident in the speedy approval of the two charters. However, Allen said these were unique circumstances.
Since legislation was passed in March calling for a charter school board, many charters have been on hold waiting for its formation. The meeting in mid-July was only the board's second meeting and the first in which applications were discussed. However, both charters' applications had been ready for months.
Now, not only do the schools have to be approved by the state school board but they must also get a waiver to the state's administrative 10-month rule.
The rule states that no charter school shall open less than 10 months after approval and only at the beginning of the school year.
Patricia Bradley, charter board director, said the rule is designed to ensure the state office will be able to provide reliable enrollment information for budget planning for the following year.
But under the schools' special circumstances charter, directors are hopeful they will get a thumbs up for both requests.
Eric Lindsay, charter applicant for East Hollywood High, has been operating a successful charter school in Logan for the past three years. Moab Community School has been operating as a private school during the past year.
Allen said because of the past performance, demonstrating competency, the board had an easier time giving them the go-ahead.
Moab Community School, which targets at-risk and minority students kindergarten through eighth grade, now has a building and is ready to go.
East Hollywood will target at-risk students and dropouts and will have an emphasis on film production. It plans to open with around 150 students this fall.
E-mail: terickson@desnews.com
