School Board rescinds OK for charter high school

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Friday, March 12, 2004 | 9:33 a.m.

The Clark County School Board voted Thursday to rescind its approval of a proposed charter high school, a move that stunned its founder, Nevada Board of Education member John Hawk.

On a 5-2 vote the board rescinded its prior approval of Nevada State High School's charter, citing concerns about lack of teacher credentials and the abbreviated school calendar.

"A decision to rescind tonight does not jeopardize the school's standing to move forward," board member Ruth Johnson said. "Those are substantial concerns that we have ...I would like to see the charter (application) return to us with those concerns answered."

Hawk had originally planned for the school to have 142 days compared with the 180 days required statewide. He received a waiver from the state Board of Education allowing the shortened calendar because students would be earning dual credits at the Nevada State College at Henderson.

Hawk also received a waiver from the state's requirement that charter schools -- like regular campuses -- use licensed teachers for core instruction. The students at the charter school would be taught entirely by college instructors who are not required to meet the same licensing requires as K-12 teachers.

Board member Susan Brager-Wellman expressed frustration at the structure of the state's charter school law, which allows applicants to circumvent a local district's authority and go to the state for waivers.

"Why are we even ruling on this when the state can override us?" Brager-Wellman asked.

The School Board's decision to rescind its sponsorship puts the future of the charter school and Hawk's position as an elected member of the state board in conflict. A state ethics panel ruled this fall that Hawk could operate the charter school and remain on the state board provided sponsorship came from the local district and not the state. If Hawk sought sponsorship from the state for his school, he would have to resign his position, the ethics panel ruled.

Hawk was absent when the School Board took its vote and said later he had not been told the item was even on the agenda. "I had absolutely no idea," Hawk said. "The process by which this took place is absolutely unbelievable to me."

Craig Kadlub, director of public affairs for the school district, told board members at the meeting he had spoken to Hawk several times and had informed him of the agenda item.

Kadlub said this morning he spoke with Hawk following the Feb. 26 board meeting to tell him board member Sheila Moulton had requested the agenda item regarding the charter application. Kadlub said he spoke with Hawk several more times over the ensuing days about the difference between a revocation and a recision.

School Board member Larry Mason, who along with member Shirley Barber voted against the recision, said he was surprised by Hawk's absence.

"I'm not comfortable doing this without (Hawk) having his chance to address us publicly," Mason said.

Hawk said he was concerned that the School Board had not followed proper procedure in revoking its support and that state law calls for 90 days' notice.

"As far as I'm concerned (Nevada State High School) is still sponsored by the Clark County School Board," Hawk said.

Prior to the vote Johnson questioned whether a vote would violate the 90-day notice rule. Kadlub noted the state requires 90 days notice before revoking a charter but, while the board had approved the charter school application, the paperwork had not yet been signed.

Charter schools receive the same per-pupil funding as the rest of the district's campuses but are given more freedom in hiring and curriculum. The sponsoring district is responsible for oversight but does not become involved in the day-to-day operations of a charter school.