Friday, March 26, 2004 | 8:56 a.m.
After being turned down by the Clark County School Board on Thursday, State Board of Education member John Hawk said he will take his application for a new charter school to his fellow state board members.
If they back the proposed charter school, Hawk said, he will resign from the state board.
A state ethics panel ruling would require him to pick between working at the charter school or staying on the state board, if the school is approved, Hawk said. This is because the state board would then have the power to close the charter school, he said.
Hawk's first four-year term on the state board expires in December.
Hawk, a regional trainer for the school district, and his wife Wendi Hawk, an assistant principal at Keller Middle School, are trying to open the Nevada State High School, which would offer college-level courses to high school juniors and seniors.
The proposed charter school would be run by the Hawks out of space at the Nevada State College at Henderson campus. Graduates of the proposed charter school would leave with a high school diploma and as much as two years of college credits from classes taken at the charter school.
John Hawk said he's committed to opening the school that he says would save students time and money by allowing them to obtain a college degree two years faster than their peers.
Earlier this month the School Board rescinded its approval of the Hawks' proposed charter school, citing concerns about teacher credentials and an abbreviated school calender for the school.
That move set the stage for Thursday's action, during which the same concerns were raised by board members.
Hawk said the school's teachers, which would be he and his wife, are both licensed to teach in the state. The other courses the high school students would take would be taught by college instructors, he said.
The Hawks increased the planned number of school days for their school to 162. The original proposal called for 142 school days, compared with the 180 days required statewide.
Students would have to provide their own transportation to the proposed charter school, he said.
The proposed school's funding was also questioned by board members Thursday.
Hawk said the school would receive $5,100 per student from the state. Another $7,500 per student would go to the state college, he said.
If the charter school is approved by the state board, the charter school would receive "a couple hundred" more dollars per student because the amount per student would be based on the statewide per- pupil spending, district staff told the board. If the local board approved the charter school, the per- pupil funding would be based solely on Clark County's per pupil spending.
Board member Ruth Johnson said she was somewhat concerned about safeguards against nepotism that could prevent the Hawks from reporting any wrongdoing by their spouse.
Hawk said the charter school would be overseen by a board of directors, whom they would have to answer too. He also said that the state could audit their school at any time.
Board President Susan Brager-Wellman said a similar magnet school already exists: the Community College High School. But she said she was particularly bothered by the fact that the state can approve a charter school despite the actions of the local school district.
"I'm just not happy with the system," she said. "I'm sure you'll get it anyway."
Hawk said that under state law the county school board may reject a charter school application even if it's complete, but the state board must approve a proper application.
Board member Larry Mason said that while it appeared the proposed charter school wouldn't be supported by the county school board, "you're better off going to the state and I know it'll fly there."
The board voted 4-2 to reject the charter school. Board members Sheila Moulton and Mason voted against the rejection. Board member Shirley Barber did not attend the meeting.
Hawk said he was disappointed by the board's action, and said he will have the application for the charter school to the state board soon.
Hawk said they hope to open the school in September. He said he would like to have a decision from the state board by mid-June.
Hawk said that while they hope to open the school with 70 students, it could open with less and be run as a part-time operation.
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