Wednesday, June 20, 2001
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Wednesday, June 20, 2001 |
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School officials studying charter school idea
By DAVE
HAMRICK
A charter school could be just what's needed to serve students who fall through the cracks in Fayette's school system, says Assistant Superintendent Stuart Bennett. "It could help students that are struggling, but on the other end, for the most advanced students, it could offer another level of education that we can't provide otherwise," Bennett told The Citizen. He presented the idea of a charter school to the Board of Education Monday night, and reported his plans to seek a planning grant to begin the process. A group of Fayette school officials has visited charter schools in Coweta and Clarke counties and "putting together some basic concepts," said Bennett. "If we're going to offer the kind of school we want to, we're going to probably step outside the lines a bit on this one," he said. There were no objections from the board, so he will keep working on the project. "I think it's great," said Chairman Mickey Littlefield. Charter schools are a relatively new concept, and often are run by private nonprofit organizations in partnership with local school boards. The idea is to provide programs and resources that aren't possible within the framework of the school system. "There would be a lot of opportunities for students, including those preparing for post-secondary schools and in college preparation," said Bennett. "We're not just going to make it a vocational school." Vocational courses will be part of the program, he said, possibly to include advanced auto mechanics and computer technology. Latin classes and other academic pursuits that might appeal to a small number of students might also be part of the offerings, he added. The charter concept allows more freedom, Bennett said, so that students can take more units in a day. The idea, he said, is to "develop, implement and offer innovative learning opportunities for residents of Fayette County to achieve economic and personal goals." Plans are to link the charter school to other programs at the LaFayette Educational Center. The center currently houses the system's alternative school, community school, evening high school and vocational-technical lab. Among functions at the school, according to a prospectus developed for the grant application, will be: Vocational, technical and advanced instruction to students of the county's five high schools in coordination with Griffin Technical College. Evening high school as a tenant of the charter school. Local college classes, community school activities and adult education classes. The planning grant will provide $5,000 to research the concept further and decide if it's right for Fayette County, Bennett said.
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