Wednesday, April 1, 1998 | 10:01 a.m.
RENO -- Ian Hill knows how it feels to be in the back of the class.
He graduated 492nd in his high school class of 495 and it was only through the special efforts of his teachers, counselors and coaches that he received a diploma.
He started work as a busboy at the Eldorado hotel-casino in Reno -- seven years later Hill is now director of hotel operations.
So it should come as no surprise that Hill is a leading force in the drive to create Nevada's first charter school for at-risk students. The application for the "I Can Do Anything" school is due this week at the state Department of Education and must eventually be approved by the Washoe County School Board.
Hill said he wants the school to be a "tunnel of hope" which will open the door to good jobs.
Hill said the nitch school would cater to up to 200 students ranging in age from 14 to 22 who don't fit in public schools.
"I was once at risk," Hill said. "I barely graduated from high school." While the intent behind the school is to offer special help, if it receives its charter, it won't be soft. For example, Hill said students who are caught with drugs, alcohol, weapons or having a gang affiliation will be automatically expelled.
Taking a second language will be required. "You will have to take Spanish if you want to continue," Hill said.
The proposed charter states that students will be in class from 8 a.m. to noon. Between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., they will be required to be in an on-the-job training program or doing some type of community service work. Proposed class sizes show a student-teacher ratio of no more than one to 18, which is smaller than the average high school class, Hill said.
Child care facilities will be provided and students, with or without children, will have to take turns overseeing the youngsters. Hill calls this a dose of reality for the students to understand the responsibility of parenthood.
Student schedules will be arranged so they can hold jobs, which many need to support themselves.
Training in the culinary arts and electronics will be emphasized so the graduates will be ready for jobs. A student who graduates, Hill said, will "know computers inside and out."
The proposed school's board of directors has recruited Margaret Williamson, who has opened and run charter schools in Mesa, Ariz., to operate the school which is scheduled to open Sept. 8.
Negotiations are underway to lease an office building near the Reno-Tahoe International Airport for the school's classes.
The 1997 Legislature enacted a charter school law, which proponents believe will help improve education. The schools, which must be approved by the county school board and follow curriculum standards, are operated by a private board and can use innovative teaching methods.
Tuition cannot be charged. Instead, funding comes from the school district and is based on a per pupil expenditure. At least 75 percent of the teachers must be licensed by the state and all others must work under the certified teachers.
While several groups -- including two in Clark County -- expressed interest in starting a charter school, the Reno group is the only one slated to submit a full application on this first go-around.
archive
