Charter Board will make recommendations on school's future

Published in The Islander News May November 6, 2008
Kelly Josephsen. kjosephsen@islandemews.com

As workshops on a local charter high school/community learning center got underway last week, the Village Council took a step to keep the process going after those sessions are completed.

At a Monday October 27, meeting, the Council preliminarily approved creation of a Charter High School Advisory Board to make recommendations on the establishment of a school. The Council will take a final vote on the committee at its meeting Tuesday, November 18, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Mayor Robert Vernon hopes to make appointments later this month. The committee should start meeting in late November or early December.

Most of the discussion on the 27th surrounded the makeup of the committee.

In the committee-forming ordinance, Village Attorney Steve Helfman detailed qualifications of potential board members. Based on input from school consultant Prakash Nair of Fielding Nair International, the seven-member board will include a community advocate, someone with a "proven record of community leadership," a parent representative and people with expertise in special education, child psychology and technology.

All members will be expected to be famil-iar with 21st Century schools. All are also likely to be school advocates, Council members noted.

However, local leaders indicated that isn't a concern at this point -- as long as the process ultimately includes input from all angles.

As Council member Michael Davey remarked, "I want a committee of people who are looking at all the ideas and bringing everything to the forefront. I want people who would like this to go forward, but understand there are certain financial realities we have to face."

Davey made his remarks after resident Angel Martin, a leader in the grassroots movement for the school, urged the Council to look toward school proponents when filling the board.

Martin said the committee's goal at this point is to create a detailed proposal for a school, which will then be presented to the community. If the committee is split between those who support the school and those who don't, he said, it won't be able to produce that proposal.

Once the proposal is ready, Martin said, those who oppose the school will have plenty of chances to weigh in, as it will be up to the entire community to decide if it wants to move forward with the project.

Added Council member Enrique Garcia, "Different opinions have to be heard. The committee has to represent the community. It has to be very, very diverse." Above all, Garcia noted, someone has to ask the tough questions about finances, location, etc. — even if they support the school concept. "Am I a school opponent? No, but I'm asking the nasty questions," he pointed out.

Garcia's colleagues confirmed they have the same questions, and Vernon stressed whether to move forward with the school will ultimately be a Council decision.

Indeed, the Charter High School Advisory Board will be solely advisory in nature and will operate in the light of day, as Helfman's ordinance stressed. Its meetings will be advertised and open to the public and press, and it will report to the Village Council and Manager.

Back to news