Launching the Campaign for students and site

Palouse Prairie Charter School seeks students, site

Proposed school has first hearing before Idaho Public Charter School Commission

By Kate Baldwin, Daily News staff writer

Monday, April 9, 2007 - Page Updated at 12:00:00 AM

The Palouse Prairie Charter School is looking for students and a building before its second hearing with the Idaho Public Charter School Commission, which is set for May 24.

"What we are setting out to do is to find 140 kids and a facility by May 24," said Nils Peterson, who serves as the proposed charter school's board chairman.

Peterson compared these requirements for getting a charter to the classic chicken-and-egg problem.

"Without a chicken, it's hard to do some of these things," he said. "The commission is very clear: 'You get the egg and we'll give you the chicken.' "

Peterson was one of four board members and other supporters who attended the April 5 hearing in Boise. They presented their proposal and answered questions from the commission and its staff.

"I was encouraged by how positive they were," Peterson said.

He said three members of the commission already had had positive experiences with the proposed school's Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound model of learning, "so they were supportive of the model we were choosing."

The commission did raise concerns about the school's plans for transpor tation and its ability to find an external academic auditor.

Peterson said these solutions are quite easy. The proposed school would use a group called the Idaho Charter School Network to perform the academic audit. Meanwhile, Moscow School District Superintendent Candis Donicht offered the transportation solution. Peterson said Donicht gave her assurances at the meeting that the charter school will be able to contract with the district for those services.

The commission also set the date for the proposed Palouse Prairie Charter School to return, but did not make a final decision on its petition.

"We didn't expect a final answer," Peterson said. "The commission sent us back to work on two things."

The commission wanted to know if the Moscow community was big enough to support two charter schools and if a facility could be found that will get zoning approval.

"In Moscow, there is the complicating factor that you can't put a school anywhere without a (conditional use permit)," he said.

Peterson said the proposed school's board is brainstorming solutions for these two issues. There already are about 90 students on the list of interested families, so establishing a solid plan for a facility likely will be the bigger challenge.

There are many ideas out there. Peterson said the school could be housed in a shared public building, in a mobile unit on a vacant lot, or even in a mall.

"We'll be appealing to the community," Peterson said.

He said there are plans to grow support through a number of upcoming events like spring tours of other expeditionary learning schools on Friday and May 4, and a workshop on understanding student portfolios on May 26. There also is a tentative community meeting scheduled for May 31 in the 1912 Center in Moscow.

Board members previously have funded the school's start-up costs out of their own pockets.

"We're at the point where we need to raise funds," Peterson said.

He said the proposed charter school is operating in "year zero" because there will be many costs before the doors can open. The pieces needed for this phase range from hiring a director and teachers to buying furniture and supplies.

Peterson said once the charter is approved, it can receive an advance from the state. That money would come out of its first year's budget.

"If we spend the advance, we'd be robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said.

Peterson said the proposed school is ready for any help to step forward, through donations or other support.

"We need some kind of an angel," he said.

* More information on the school and the upcoming tours, workshops, and community meeting can be found at palouseprairieschool.org. Interested parties also can call Jessica Rivers at (208) 858-2025 to sign up for these activities.

QUICKREAD

* WHAT HAPPENED: The proposed Palouse Prairie Charter School presented its petition for permission to operate to the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

* WHAT IT MEANS: The commission advised the proposed school on its concerns for a building, whether enough students are available and other technical needs. The commission also set a date for the proposed school's board members to return with a plan for addressing these issues.

* WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: The proposed charter school will return to the commission on May 24 for its second hearing.

* WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: The school is projected to open in August 2008 with approximately 125 students. It would serve students in kindergarten through sixth grade, with the goal of growing to serve students in seventh and eighth grades. The school follows the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound model of learning, which focuses on academic content and real-world projects.

Kate Baldwin can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 239, or by e-mail at kbaldwin@dnews.com.