Charter school rejection called ‘nothing personal’

Emily Richmond and Cy Ryan

Monday, July 12, 2004 | 9:24 a.m.

As far as three members of the State Board of Education are concerned, their decision to shoot down colleague John Hawk's proposed charter high school was "nothing personal."

Hawk isn't so sure.

"I can only wonder and I can only speculate, but it seems like some people out there were bringing personal matters into play," said Hawk of Friday's vote that turned down the charter school's dual-credit application.

"What we were proposing for the school was completely in line with what the (state) board has already approved. So where was the fairness? Where was the equal treatment?"

Nevada State High School, co-founded by Hawk and his wife, Clark County School District assistant principal Wendi Hawk, intended to open next month. The 35 students would have earned dual credits attending classes at Nevada State College in Henderson.

Similar high school programs are already operating in the Clark and Washoe county school districts, Hawk said.

Hawk said he won't harbor hard feelings or let the outcome of the vote interfere with his work on the board.

"I'm there to represent my constituents and do what's in the best interest of public education," said Hawk, who is running unopposed on the November ballot.

Six affirmative votes were needed for the application to be approved. Board members Dorothy Nolan, Theresa Malone and Barbara Myers refused to support the proposal for dual-credit courses. In addition to Waters, members Marcia Washington, John Gwaltney and Cliff Ferry supported the application. Hawk -- who has abstained from any discussion or voting relating to the proposed charter school -- skipped the Carson City meeting. Also absent were members Patrick Boylan and and Merv Iverson.

Myers said she voted against the proposed dual-credit program because the course list handed out by the school Friday was different from prior lists that had been submitted for review.

"It (the course list) included such things as gaming, how to play baccarat, craps -- courses that are offered at the university," Myers said. "It included a course in bartending. It included a course in human sexuality ... course I believe are not appropriate for high school students."

Malone offered little explanation for her opposition.

"Since the vote has been taken I've decided not to comment," Malone said.

When asked if her decision had motivated by any personal factors she replied, "Of course not."

The nay votes were "absolutely unfair," said Board of Education President Gary Waters, who supported the charter school proposal.

"I am extremely disappointed," Waters said. "John Hawk was treated differently and disfavorably treated because he is a member of this body, and that is very disturbing to me."

There are only 12 states that have dual- accreditation requirements set down in policy, said Nolan. The state education board should begin discussing possible regulations regarding dual-credit so that a recommendation could be made to the 2005 Legislature, Nolan said.

"We should review and get something down and make our decision," Nolan said. "Because the (next) new charter school may be the same thing and then what do we do."

Waters agreed with Nolan that a discussion of dual-credit programs is overdue. The board will need to review programs that have already been approved, such as the Community College High School program in Clark County, Waters said.

"We do need to establish policies and procedures on dual credit, which the board probably should have done long ago," Waters said. "But it will come after a lot of discussion and debate by board members."

When Nevada State High School was first proposed last year the Hawks hoped the Clark County School District would sponsor the charter. But the district declined, citing concerns about the abbreviated length of the academic calendar and the credentials of instructors at the state college. The Hawks then turned to the state education board for sponsorship.

The state ethics commission told Hawk in November that if the education board sponsored the charter he would have to choose between serving as the school's co-director or his seat on the board. Hawk originally said he would resign his seat if the charter school moved forward. But he later backed away from that commitment, saying he was searching for a compromise.

Prior to Friday's vote Hawk said he had planned to leave the daily operations of the charter school up to his wife while he continued his job as a corporate trainer for the Clark County School District. But now it appears that they will both be back at work when school begins next month.

"The process, as far as getting the school up and running, appears to be over," Hawk said Friday."Right now our priority is the students who wanted to take advantage of a terrific opportunity. We'll be making sure they know where they'll be going to school and that they're taken care of."