Agassi’s charter school aces others

Benjamin Grove

Tuesday, June 8, 1999 | 11:12 a.m.

A swirl of political maneuvering has left Las Vegas tennis star Andre Agassi with $600,000 in state money for a charter school while two other upstart charter school groups scramble for money.

The leaders of two state-approved charter schools -- a proposed high school in Sandy Valley and a computers-centered school in Las Vegas -- say they were stunned when lawmakers approved money for the unlicensed Agassi school.

"We certainly wish the Agassi Foundation well," Dawn Haviland, leader of the Sandy Valley group, said. "It was just disappointing that they were able to secure $600,000, and we are still trying to find the resources we need."

Haviland and other Sandy Valley residents have worked for two years to establish the Keystone Academy in their town roughly 30 miles southwest of Las Vegas, which would initially serve about 45 ninth and 10th graders.

Sandy Valley has an elementary/middle school but no high school. Students endure up to four hours a day on a school-bus commute to Durango High School in Las Vegas. Dropout rates among Sandy Valley's high school students have been as high as 80 percent.

Haviland said she needs $400,000 in start-up funds, plus the donation of portable classrooms, to establish the school. No corporate sponsors have been willing to help, she said.

"Thus far, we do not have a hero," Haviland said.

Charter schools are financed by taxpayers on a per-pupil basis like public schools but are run by private organizations, not the school district. The schools have some freedom to operate independently but must meet state standards.

Charter schools have blossomed nationwide during the past decade, now numbering about 1,100 in 34 states.

The Nevada Legislature in 1997 cleared the way for charter schools in this state. Only one was established, in Washoe County.

In April, the Clark County School Board approved proposals for the first two charter schools in Southern Nevada: the Sandy Valley school and the Odyssey Charter School of Nevada. Odyssey founders Vee Wilson and David Price, both veteran principals, said Odyssey students in grades K-8 would do most of their learning on home computers, with the guidance of parents. They plan to lease an office and computer labs.

Plans for the Agassi school are about a year old. Organizers propose a $4 million charter school in West Las Vegas near Agassi's Boys & Girls Club. The school would serve about 80 middle-school students who live in nearby public housing in its first year, beginning fall 2000.

Agassi's foundation has pledged $750,000 to the project; the Department of Housing and Urban Development pledged another $750,000.

Agassi has been in Paris for the French Open during the past week. The 29-year-old tennis veteran won the tournament Sunday, earning his fourth grand slam victory and $636,000.

The Agassi school is still just a concept. Organizers have not developed a curriculum. Agassi school organizers also have not yet applied for certification with the State Department of Education.

That's partly why leaders for the Sandy Valley and Odyssey schools were surprised when lawmakers on the final day of their session, May 31, gave Agassi money. Lawmakers made Agassi's foundation the state's first charter school to receive start-up money from the Legislature.

Lawmakers never made it clear that state money was available for charter schools, Haviland said.

"We were told from the beginning that charter schools would receive no state money (for start-up costs)," Haviland said. "We have been told the entire way that we were on our own."

Odyssey organizer Vee Wilson said, "We didn't ask for money, so they didn't give it to us. Maybe we were uninformed about the Legislative process. Certainly, we could have used the money."

The Legislature's last-minute decision also didn't sit well with several lawmakers, including Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, a teacher.

"I could not after four years convince this body to use general fund money for K-12 existing schools that are falling apart," Giunchigliani said after the session ended May 31. "And then all of a sudden they are able to come up with public money for a charter school that's going to be built regardless if the state puts any money into it or not."

The Agassi Foundation had some powerful allies in Carson City: influential public relations machine R & R Advertising began lobbying lawmakers in February on behalf of Agassi, a pro bono client. Vocal education advocate Elaine Wynn, wife of casino mogul Steve Wynn, also lent her support to the Agassi school.

"We really presented this as a private-public partnership," Steven Horsford of R & R Advertising said. "We made it clear we weren't just here asking for a handout. This is a partnership."

Assemblyman and Majority Floor Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said the Agassi team made a convincing case. Agassi himself sent a 4 1/2-minute unscripted videotape of his proposal.

"We figured with the commitment that had already been made it was certainly a worthwhile project and showed the most promise," Perkins said. "When you have that kind of support (R & R and Wynn) you have to figure the success rate will be pretty darn high."

The Sandy Valley and Odyssey school groups say they are determined to find enough private money to open in time for the upcoming school year.

"Disappointment can make people more determined," Haviland said. "This little community is capable of miracles."

Odyssey leaders already have nearly 100 applications from students, Wilson said. He hopes to hire seven or eight teachers for the school next month.

Wilson is leaving his principal's post at Elizabeth Wilhelm Elementary School to start the new Odyssey school.

"It's going to come off," Wilson said. "I'm pretty confident."