Keystone Academy plan rejected

Terry Webster

Friday, Aug. 24, 2001 | 10:12 a.m.

A plan to amend the Keystone Academy Charter School program Thursday was voted down by the Clark County School Board.

The plan would have allowed about 100 at-risk students -- primarily dropouts -- to attend classes for six hours a week at 11 different Boys and Girls Clubs or YMCA locations in Las Vegas. Keystone Academy is located in Sandy Valley.

The rest of the students' studies would have been completed through independent study, distance learning or correspondence. The program also would have allowed the students to earn high school diplomas.

Keystone and the new program would have functioned separately, although the two would have shared funding.

Keystone officials Thursday admitted the charter school had financial problems last year. Charter schools receive the same state per pupil aid as traditional schools.

In a memo to the School Board, Craig Kadlub, who oversees the district's charter schools, noted that the district already has similar programs.

The memo also questioned whether the program would be able to effectively serve special education students.

"We thought this was a win-win situation for everyone," Chris Meyer, acting principal, said after the plan was denied.

She added, "We are going to pursue this. We are not going to give up."