HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Sheet Establishing New Charter School INFORMATION SHEET FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW CHARTER SCHOOL
WESTLAKE L ACADEMY
DATE PROPOSED FOR OPENING: Fall, 2002
OPEN or 75%® AT-RISK: OPEN
NEW or CONVERSION: NEW
NEW CHARTER SCHOOL NAME: WESTLAKE ACADEMY
COUNTY: TARRANT
MAILING ADDRESS: 3 VILLAGE CIRCLE, SUITE 207, WESTLAKE,TX 76262
SITE ADDRESS: SAME
CONTACT PERSON: TRENT PETTY
TELEPHONE ER: 817-430-0941
FAX N ER: 817-430-1812
MAXIMUM GRADES SERVED: K-12
MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT: 800
CORPORATE C ARTS NUM13ER FROM SECRETARY OF STATE: NOT IN
APPLICATION
NI -DIGIT EMPLOYER ID NUM13ER FROM IRS: NOT IN APPLICATION
PLANS FOR FIRST FIVE YEARS OF OPERATIONS AS INDICATED IN CHAPTER
APPLICATION:
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR4 YEAR5
NO OF SITES I - - -
GRADES 1-6 -7 K-8 K-9 K-10
JENROLLMENT 400 (390) 515 580 645 710
PLEASE NOTE PAGE NUMBERS IN APPLICATION WHERE THE PLANS ARE
INDICATED: P. 22
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
Division of School Financial Audits
MEMORANDUM
To: Mary Perry,Manager
Division of Charter Schools
Frown: Ramon Medina, Senior Audit Manager
Charter School Audits Section
Date: June 9,2001
Subject: Charter Application for Westlake Academy
Auditors reviewed the Application for an Open-Enrollment Charter School for Westlake Academy and
noted the following:
Statement describing sponsoring entity,page 12
1. The applicant stated "As a governmental entity, the Town of Westlake found that it was in the
public interest that a non-profit corporation,the'Westlake Academy Corpora t be created under
the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act to act on behalf of the Town as it duly constituted authority
and instrumentality, within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for
the purpose of providing educational services and facilities." However, the applicant identified
the sponsoring entity as the Town of Westlake, Texas on the coversheet. The applicant should
clearly identify the entity that applied for the charter?
Student attendance(excused and unexcused absences),page 43
2. For official attendance accounting and Foundation School Program (FSP) funding purposes,
auditors will use the requirements discussed in the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook and
other applicable state and federal regulations to determine if a student was present or absent and,
consequently,if the charter school was entitled to FSP funds.
Should you have any questions,I may be contacted at 3-9131. i
Special Education West lake
GENERATION 7 CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION REVIEW
Please list and explain any issues that need clarification in the interviews Process.
REQl71RE13 CtNTI�N� E
s" tr
Child Find Any reference or assurance to follow NOTE
34 CFR 300.125 Application cited the state's
34 CFR 300.125 obligation to Child Find.
Applicant's primary responsibility(including referral The charter school is
systems)is to identify, locate,and evaluate all defined as a local education
children with disabilities. agency,therefore,a system
of child find is the
responsibility of the charter
school
INFORMATION REQUESTED
NONE
Confidentiality INFORMATION REQUESTED
NONE
Procedural INFORMATION REQUESTED
Safeguards
NONE
Prior notice INFORMATION REQUESTED
by agency;content
of notice NONE
Observation Any reference or assurance to follow INFORMATION REQUESTED
(assessment/ 34 CFR 300.531-300.543, TEC 29.004, and
A k , evaluation) 19 TAC 89,1015, 89.1040 a Evaluation procedures
® Initial evaluation 0 Determination of needed
34 CFR 300.531 — e Evaluation procedures evaluation data
300.543; Determination of needed evaluation data Reevaluation
r TEC 29.004; 0 Determination of eligibility 0 Additional team members
19 TAC 89.1015; Procedures for determining eligibility 0 Observation
89.1040 &placement
Written report
• Reevaluation
• Additional team members
• Criteria for determining the existence of
specific learning disabilities
• Observation
• Written report
Development& Any reference or assurance to follow INFORMATION REQUESTED
implementation of 34 CFR 300.342-350;and 19 TAC 89.1050,
the IEP 89.1055 a When IEPs must be in
® When IEPs must be in effect effect
34 CFR 300.342- ® IEP/ARD meetings a IEP/ARD team
300.350; a IEP/ARD team 0 Content of the IEP
6/26/2001 1
Special Education Westlake
r 4
19 TAC 89.1050; ® Parent participation ® Agency responsibilities for
89.1055 ® Development, review,and revision transition services
of the IEP(TAC 89.1050) ® IEP accountability
® Content of the IEP
• Agency responsibilities for transition services
® IEP accountability - -
Least Restrictive Any reference or assurance to follow NOTE
Environment 34 CFR 300.550-553 ➢ The Student Service
(LRE) Placement e General LRE requirements
■ All placements are made on an individual INFORMATION REQUESTED
34 CFR 300.550- basis
553 0 Continuum of alternative placements(special Continuum of alternative
education continuum) placements(special
Placements education continuum)
® Annual placement decisions are
determined by an ARD committee
® Nonacademic settings
Transitional Any reference or assurance to follow NOTE
Planning 34 CFR 300.29, TEC 29.091;TAC 89.1110, and 9 The response is too vague
the Transition MOU to determine charter
34 CFR 300.29, knowledge of special
TEC 29.011; education procedures.
19 TAC 89.1110;
Transition MOU INFORMATION REQUESTED
Any reference or assurance to
follow
® 34 CFR 300.29, TEC
29.011;TAC 89.1110, and
the Transition MOU
Certified Any reference or assurance to follow NOTE
Personnel 34 CFR 300.23, 300.136, TAC 89.1131, and The response is too vague
SBEC certification guidelines to determine charter
34 CFR 300.23, knowledge of special
300.136; 0 Qualified Personnel education procedures.
19 TAG 89.11.31; ® Professionals
SBEC guidelines ® Paraprofessionals INFORMATION REQUESTED
® Personnel standards
® Qualified Personnel -
® Professionals
Paraprofessionals
® Personnel standards
Services to INFORMATION REQUESTED
Expelled Students
NONE
6/2612001 2
Special Education Westlake
Please list and explain any areas of concerts that need to be raised before the
State Board of Education.
Charter could be at-risk for potential: Will the proposed charter submit documentation of knowledge
• Due process hearings in the specific contingencies requested above(third column—
® FAPE violations CONTINGENCIES PENDING)?
• Compliance issues
6/26/2001 3
C4 r A.
7`h Generation Charter App. Review Legal Services Division
Charles Moody
WESTLAKE CHARTER SCHOOL
Evidence of Nonprofit Status: N/A. The charter holder will be the Town of Westlake.
Governmental entities are eligible to hold charters pursuant to TEC § 12.101(a)(4).
Westlake has established a nonprofit corporation to act on its behalf in establishing and
operating the Westlake Academy (Resolutions, Attachment 1). The exemption of this
corporation from federal income tax is a separate question,' but whether it is exempt or
not, the State Board of Education still has statutory authority under the Education Code to
grant a charter to the Town of Westlake.
From TEA's standpoint, the nonprofit corporation will occupy basically the
position of a school management board, with ultimate accountability for compliance with
the charter resting with the Town of Westlake. The resolutions provide that no bonds or
obligations of the nonprofit corporation constitute obligations of the Town of Westlake
(Attachment 1). If the corporation has authority under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation
Act to issue revenue bonds that by their terms are payable only from revenues of the
school, and that do not otherwise bind the Town of Westlake, the exercise of that
authority presents no problem for TEA. However, the applicant should recognize that
nothing in the Resolutions.will keep the charter holder (Town of Westlake)-from being
obligated for ordinary debts of its charter school. The contract for charter, which will
need to be signed by the Mayor on behalf of the Town of Westlake and not just by the
board chair and CEO of the Westlake Academy Corporation, provides in part:
"Charterholder may not delegate, assign, subcontract or otherwise alienate any of its
rights or responsibilities under the charter." Therefore;for example:
If an attendance audit reveals that Foundation School Program (FSP) funds
have been overpaid to the school, and TEA needs to reclaim funds, the
amount of the overpayment will be an obligation of the Town of Westlake;
When the school contracts for educational materials or services, those debts
will be obligations of the Town of Westlake;
If the school fails to make the proper contributions to the Teacher Retirement
System (TRS) for its employees, and TRS places a warrant hold on payments
of state money to the charter holder, that warrant hold would include any
amounts payable to the Town of Westlake, including FSP funds paid by TEA.
The Town of Westlake will be the payee for FSP funds from TEA.
Public Notice: OK(Attachments 7-9, 11-12).
Facilities: The exact location and nature of the proposed facilities are not described.
The application says that facilities will be "innovatively cross-utilized" between the
Westlake Academy and the Town of Westlake (p. 48). Roes this mean that existing
1 As an instrumentality of the Town of Westlake,the corporation should be exempt from federal taxation
under I.R.C. § 115 as long as it is serving an"essential governmental function." See, e.g.,Rev.Rul.77-
261;PLR 200022028.
. r a
7`h Generation Charter App. Review Legal Services Division
Charles Moody
TOWN OF WESTLAKE—p. 2
municipal facilities will be made available to the school, or does it mean that school
facilities constructed with state funds will be used more generally for municipal
purposes? Note that newly enacted TEC § 12.128 provides that property purchased or
leased with state funds "may be used only for a purpose for which a school district may
use school district property." The reason for raising the question is that although the
application says that"[the Town of Westlake's resolution to provide space and facilities
for Westlake Academy is in Attachment 24" (p. 48), in fact Attachment 24 authorizes the
creation of a nonprofit corporation to issue revenue bonds that will help provide
educational facilities "and facilities related thereto," but specifies that no such bonds or
obligations will be obligations of the Town of Westlake.
Geographic Boundaries: OK(p. 51 &Attachment 27).
Impact Statement: OK (pp. 51-52 & Attachment 28).
Admissions: The application describes a first-come, first-served system (pp. 86-87).
Instead, to be consistent with federal guidelines and the charter contract, the school
should designate an application period, and at the end of that period conduct a lottery of
all applicants in any grade level for which applications exceed available space. Siblings
of Westlake Academy students may be exempted from the lottery according to federal
guidelines.
Governance Structure: (pp. 15-19, 89-91 &Attachments 2-3). We received bylaws but
not articles of incorporation for the Westlake Academy Corporation. Also, the
application on pages 18-19 describes the officer positions of the Westlake Academy
Corporation but does not answer the other application prompts concerning the
- corporation's board of directors (the manner in which they are selected and removed
from office, how vacancies on the board are filled, etc.). The bylaws included as
Attachment 3 answer these questions to some extent.
Statement of Impact
For Charter Application
Name of Proposed Charter School: Westlake Academy
Check the appropriate response below:
The proposed open enrollment charter school is not expected to adversely impact the school
district to a significant degree
The proposed open-enrollment charter school(amendment) is expected to impact the school
district in the following manner:
(Describe the impact in the space below and/or attach any supporting documentation.)
I C ,
(District Name) (County-District Identification Number)
v,6t, Tt ..- -7 6 2=n, t
(District Address)
nature of Board President) (Print Board President's Name)
L
CA, Rctv t. J X11
(Signattq of Superinten ent) (Print Superintendent's Name
(Date) (Phone Number)
F7
77 Statein nt'of Impact--,
pen-E �rolinient Chai°ter School
Purpose of this form: .The sponsoring entity entered below is submitting an application to the State Board
of Education for approval to operate or amend an open-enrollment charter school. The name and location of
the proposed charter school is provided:
Westlake Academy
#3 Village Circle
Suite 207
Westlake, TX 76262
In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 12.110(d)(2),this form must be provided to any school
district likely to be affected by the open-enrollment charter school. That school district may then submit this
form to the State Board of Education information relating to any financial difficulty that a loss in enrollment
may have on the district, information pertaining to any impact on student enrollment that may impair a
district's ability to comply with a court order affecting the district, and any other information it wishes to
share with the board. For more detailed information about the proposed charter, contact the sponsoring
entity indicated above.
Dote. under Texas Education Code 12.106, an approved open-enrollment charter school is entitled to the
distribution of the available school fund for a student attending the charter school to which the district in
which the student resides would be entitled. This would include any benefits and any transportation
allotment for which the student is eligible under Chapter 42. An approved open-enrollment charter is also
entitled to a portion of the tax revenue collected by the school district for maintenance and operation as
provided in Texas Education Code 12.107.
Instructions: Submit the completed form signed by the district superintendent and board president to:
The Texas Education Agency
Division of Charter Schools
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin,TX 78701
The form should be received by the agency by , for consideration by the State Board of
Education with respect to approval of the proposed p en-enrollment charter school. For information about
the procedures for atinroval of open-enrollment charter schools,please contact Division of Charter Schools at
(512)463-9575. .
r
�� E _Sta�effien�bf I� :act .
ksar- Iitima�` A `
Name of Proposed Charter School: Westlake Academy
Check the appropriate response below:
The proposed open enrollment charter school is not expected to adversely impact the school
district to a significant degree
X_ The proposed open-enrollment charter school(amendment) is expected to impact the school
district in the following manner:
(Describe the impact in the space below and/or attach any supporting documentation.)
See Attached Statement.
Northwest'-Independent School D;s rict 061-911
(District Name) (County-District Identification Number)
1800 State Hwy 114 Justin TX 76247
(District Address)
Danny Simpson
'Si o hoar President) t Board President's Name)
Keith Sockwell
(Si e of Superintendent) (Print Superintendent's Name)
May 22° 2001 817-215-0030
(Date) (Phone Number)
Northwest Teamwork
Pride
Independent School District Excellence
STATEMENT OF IMPACT
Northwest ISD does not support the granting of a Charter to the Westlake Academy. The Westlake
Academy will have a significant negative impact on the Northwest hndependent School District. The
impact includes, but is not limited to, an impact on the financial resources, fiscal stability, bond ratings,
contractual obligations, infrastructure, program design, accurate forecasting, and estimating for all
planned activities of the Northwest ISD.
Northwest ISD is committed to becoming one of the top school districts in the state. The Town of
Westlake is located in three school districts,Northwest ISD, Carroll ISD, and Keller ISD:Currently,there
are no students who live in Westlake who are attending Northwest ISD schools, and only twenty-six
students who are attending Keller ISD schools and three who are attending Carroll ISD schools. The
Town of Westlake does not have a student population to support a Charter School in its community.
Westlake Academy has the potential of diverting a number of Northwest ISD's quality students due to its
proximity to the Town of Trophy Club, the largest community in the Northwest ISD and the location of
two Northwest ISD TEA Exemplary and two Recognized schools.
Northwest ISD reached Chapter 41 status in 2000 and passed a$182 million bond election in February
2001. The loss of students will have a definite impact on the district's financial resources,program
design, and accurate enrollment forecasting. Since Northwest ISD is a Chapter 41 district,the loss of
students will reduce the district's Weighted Average Daily Attendance(WADA).The district's recapture
payment will also increase as a result of the loss in WADA. Financially,the district will lose a portion of
the available school fund. If one-third of the projected 400-student enrollment for Westlake Academy is
from Northwest ISD, the district will pay$684,300 in Recapture Tax and will lose $32,984 from the
Available School Fund. The district has the potential of losing$6.5 million in operating funds over the
next five years(See attachment A-1).
As enrollment increases for the Westlake Academy,Northwest ISD, a rapidly growing Chapter 41
district,will be forced to evaluate a variety of budget scenarios, all of which may result in the reduction
of teaching positions, staff, programs and essential services to its students. This will adversely affect the
district's goal to provide a quality education program.
In Westlake Academy's application, it implies that there is a need for a school that offers a rigorous
curriculum. The Northwest ISD Board of TrusteesTvision is for the NISD to become a top school district
in the state. Based upon TEA evaluative data, student performance, staff evaluation,and community
input,the district is well underway to achieving this goal. Northwest ISD offers a rigorous curriculum
with sixteen (16) Advanced Placement courses, Pre-AP courses,advanced technology and college
concurrent credit courses. Northwest ISD is committed to offering its students a quality and challenging
educational program. Losing any of the district's top students would be extremely detrimental. The
district emphasizes that there is not a necessity to create a Charter School in this area. In support of its
position, the district requests the State Board of Education to note the opposition submitted by Carroll
ISD and Keller ISD,the other affected districts by the Westlake Academy application. Therefore,the
Northwest Independent School District requests the open enrollment charter school application for
Westlake Academy be denied.
ro
Northwest Teamwork
Pride
Independent School District Excellence
DATE: April 17, 2001
TO: Keith Sockwell, Superintendent of Schools
FROM: Jon Graswich, Assistant Superintendent for Finance-�
RE: Five-Year Financial Forecast - Charter School Impact
The Five-Year Financial Forecast reflects the potential impact opening a charter school
would have upon the District. This forecast is based on one-third of the projected 400
student enrollment for Westlake Academy is from Northwest ISD the first year. A
projected loss of 267 students from Northwest ISD is estimated for each year thereafter.
Charter School Impact°
The Revenue Projection Summary projects a potential$6.5 million loss in operating
funds over the next five years.
The Available School Fund is set on an annual basis by the State Board of Education
(SBOE). This amount is not subject to Chapter 41 recapture. At the September, 2000,
meeting the SBOE set the 2000 - 2001 rate at $248 per capita. This current rate was
carried forward in the projection.
ARTER SCHOOL IMPACT
CHAPTER 41 RECAPTURE AND AVAILABLE SCHOOL FUND
Chapter 41 Available
School Year Recapture Tax School Fund Total Impact
2001-02 $ 684,300 $ 32,984 $ 717,284
0 2002-03 $ 1,394,912 $ 66,216 $ 1,461,128
i 2003-04 $ 1,399,084 $ 66,216 $ 1,465,300
0 2004-05 $ 1,398,676 $ 66,216 $ 1,464,892
0 2005-06 $ 1,400,693 $ 66,216 $ 1,466,909
1800 State Hwy 114,Justin,TX 76247-8700
(817)215-0025 (817)215-0170 FAX
.Tuesday,January 16,2001,THE KELLER CITIZEN,
.6fricia, Is proceoding with
n`to -io n cnarte�k -gchlool
lica' do"
S
said q Education committee to ehart�rs fr' m 18 oldest schools .
`$y STEVE PASCHAL
accept students from Westlake first, would have gone to the transferring
r
'
After a public meeting last Tuesday ,then open its doors to students primar-= student's district,the money will only
,dt which more than a dozen people ily in the Keller;Northwest and Car- cover the cost of educating the stu-
t
vo ' . 11 school districts. He added that
iced their support for theplan, ro
dent.Money for facilities and to run
Westlake is proceeding with its appli- - there are plans to start an International the school.would have to come from
cation to create a charter school within Baccalaureate program with college:-,.',..private and corporate donations, he
fits boundaries.. based curriculum and emphasis on-' said.Under state law,charter schools
6 'Despite a lack of assurances that the . foreign languages.International Bac- may not charge tuition.
state willgrant.its application, in calaureate programs, Bradley ';:east Tuesday, about 2S people
attended a-ineetina at Westlake City
:December Westlake s board of alder- explained,require students to be prop-;.;`y., a _ . :.
:..::.
man authorized Town Manager Trent ficient in three'.languages,"includingHall to supportaplan to open acharter
Petty submit an application to the state English That would help lure oversees school..If the state approves the char
-
to`start a K-12 school.However,sup- businesses to Westlake,he said.. .-,,.ter, Vesdakeplans.to open the school
porters have not.determined if enough `By opening a charter school,West=. in,the fall of 2002. However, until a
:parents in Westlake and nearby school lake hopes to become even more permanent school is built, the school
districts will send their children to the attractive to intematioinal corpora- .may have to lease space or purchase'
school to justify its existence. That tions,"Bradley explained:`.`A charter"art:existing building. In addition, the
:'decision must be made before the Feb. school would allow executives work- >school may not cover all grades K-12
.15 filing'deadline for new charters. . ing in the United States for a couple of in its first year. ,
-' In addition,there are no assurances. years to.bring their families to.Texas ,=Last week;the State Board of Edu-
thestatewillgrantWestlake'srequest. _without worrying about interrupting`, cation''.Committee on Planning
;The state has already granted the max- their children's education.!' announced that it would meet with
�,.:.. .
imam of 120 open=enrollment charters . . mother reason.the town wants to off cials from Texas' 18 oldest charter
and the only way Westlake''applica- : open its own school,Bradley said,;is schools to determine whether or not to
t on can be approved is if the state rais-. because of the town's location on the':'renew their'ch'arters.The
es the the limit or if an existing school sur outskirts'of three school districts..-.anon charters were approved to oper-
�.:
.-renders its charter. .. While students from Westlake attend ate as public schools in 1995 and they
"Westlake is not a place,historical- .*school in either the Keller,Northwest ,must seek renewal of their charter this
1y,where people are easily deterred," or Carroll district's,because of the low"`:`.yew if they wish to continue to oper-
'sMd Petty.`.`Our strategy is to do what- . number of students coming from the' ate.
ever it takes to get that school built...' . town of 250 residents,none of the dis-
I don't carelf we inherit someone* trict's is likely.to.build'a school in
else's old charter or if we're granted a
Westlake.
new one:' There is also the problem of fund-
Mayor Scott Bradley said the pro- ing, Bradley pointed out. While the-
posed Westlake Acade.my_would sch ool would receive state money that
r il�esclay,�Decci�lbei�l2;2000 www.'star•telegram.
0.
S 'a K.e., -V,"0* S' '
pp�y , o, arter scho.ol
By Jostt Sn ' rRday night to start, an application for the
swrTetegrarastarewrr�r• academy, making. an
the first Texas
WESTLA -a.Monday was a'day of. town to apply for a'chlrter school.'
is in:this tiny,town, capped by a unani . s 5 .r : ' ' Bradley sand the school boundaries-for .
us,vote to create what would-be the only.' ' the;academy wduld most likely mirror the
iter school in 1`6rtheast'Tarraht County: . townlimits, and Westlake residents would
stlake Academy ' ' get first preference for enrollment.
Earlier Monday, 6ffrcials bundled•in. of cor'�imunity,"•Mayor Scott Bradley said. " Plans call for 40Q students, possibly ,
;rcoats turned a shovel'of dirt and : "It's*truly.an exciting place:And throw on •.'increasing to.1•,000, Town.Manager Trent
nched.a-$L6•rriillion'remeidy�for the•,,.'Jop of that we don't have'any property tax, . -Petty said, Classes would be offered from
lergmund maze of utility lines. and it's really unusual." kindergarten through 12th grade. .
`We're really trying to be a different kind The Board of Aldermen voted,5-0,'Mon- (More on wcsrrrAxr on Page 7[t)
On Monday morning, officials broke Petty said.
VESTLAKE,
ground for a duct bank`that is designed to cope The duct bank is 16,500,feet of plastic pipe ,
with steep popttlatiori.growth expected in with smaller pipes inside. Westlake will lay
' Westlake: According to,some estimates;.the,' them underground and install,manholes along
From Page 1B town could.iricrease to 5,000 people'from 250 the way. When a telecommunications compa
within 10 years.., ny wants to lay new line, workers can feed it
dVestlake'also'wants to start air International Those people will need new services, into the duct.bank. That means no more dig-
calaureate program; which•,is '.often.: which means new electric lines,.gas lines, grng or outages from severed lines,petty said.
cribed'as the most academically challeng waterlines-and telecommunications wiring, As far as.anyone knows Westlake is.the
in'the world:Shrdents"would need to know '.petty said, onl town to duct banks,he said.
;e languages to graduate:. All the lines•create chaos 'underground, 6y. �'
Manners;want•the••school.to be,prestigious.•;:especially when they,need service, he said. This is aprecedent-setting solution for a
ugh t®attractintemational•businesses:.. ;,;Utility companies are constantly cutting.each problem we think is going to.plague many
`It will,;no quesnon;'rarse:property.Values,°'.';;other's;lures, causing service outages•and traf cities for years,"Bradley said:
ty's"azde`;",Yati-"'srmply,i;raiqse•thet bar1,f.;or. fi;e jams.. 1., Josh Shaffer,
(817)E85-3957
` " fW '
ryon6aroundlt ', ,ve oa'rened for thlt J.shn erCrPar-tetegrnnr.cnnr
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.��,•�'�41:1.'�.�1��1i��� /�1.5�� }t"It • l.d�' .t .rl� tl{.,'r''1,�'�j'II��.P �.a�l',i��,, � �, ��r� 1 I+i. •• 'I�' ' '1• .it.ill' .� ','i,n'
,staff-telegram.com/Wednesday,January 10,2001` WESTLAKE
ans 96 forwar'
Charter schootph d.
BY JOSit.S11AF MR. Eventually, Westlake would Northwest district would bring
scar-rcleimm serf water like the charter school to have-an $5,440.
•WESTLAKE.` Westlake International Baccalaureate pro- Several things complicate
'hopes to open-its charter school gram; a rigorous.course that Westlake's plans.
in fall 2002,'offering a rigorous requires a 4,000-word thesis for 'For one, the state has already
'curriculum with 13 students to a graduation. handed out 120'open enrollment
class.'' But it,would take two years of charters, the maximum allowed .
At the sa'mke tithe, the town is proven'success to apply for that "by law. Granting Westlake a
rushing to-hrush'its-application sort of program, said John charter would require a change
-to the'.state by the Feb. 15 dead- Brooks, an education consultant in state.law orfor a current
lime. .' to the town: school to lose its charter.
That application will probably Petty-said Westlake,Academy Brooks said that will not be a
lack a permanent.location for the would most likelyhave to.'start in ..major hurdle. Some schools are
school building, Town Manager a temporary building. .-expected to lose their charters
Trent Petty said:But he forecasts About.a dozen parents attend- when they come up for renewal.
success. ed the Tuesday night meeting Also,at least one educator has
"We are not•easily deterred and voiced their support for the said that Westlake will have to
people," Petty said. "Westlakd-is school. take special-education students
not a place,;historically, where .••Westlake is'served by Carroll,, '.along with the gifted and talent-
;we've been easily"deterred."' ' Keller and Northwest school dis- -ed; complicating its plans to
In December, -Westlake tricts. But,it contributes'too few 'crater to the academically
announced.plans for Westlake. students for any of those districts ..advanced.
Academy, a.400-student charter, to build a school in Westlake. _. But consultants. said.that .
school that`-w®uld offer classes ' A charter school 'would. ..incorning students would be told
from.kindergarten'to 12th grade. receive state money based on its that the curriculum.would be
Town residents'would be given students' former school districts.: .,challenging, perhaps involving
first chance at-enrollment. For example, a student from the three hours of homework a night.'
W e. ke--. s e6kin
la 9
char.te""r-- school
WESTI AKE—The town of Westlake is "Westlake Academy will be eligible to
forming a development committee to receive that portion of the funds that
found a charter school for the town,with would be used for operational expenses
the goal of having the first students in by the school district which the student
the classroom by next September.The would normally attend,"Petty added.
committee,to be composed of Westlake* The district would keep the portion of its ;
citizens,is scheduled to begin work in tax base used for other expenses.
January,according to Trent Petty,town This is really a good deal for the
manager. school districts,"Petty claimed."they
The September target date is based on get to keep much of the tax money and
Westlake being granted a charter by.the don't have to educate the student." .
State of Texas and on finding a suitable Portions of Westlake lie in three dif-
location for the school,Petty said. ferent school districts-Northwest,
If either of these conditions cannot be Carroll and Keller.Petty'said Oil Carroll
met,the school probably would not be has so far been cordial but uncommitted
able to open until.September 2002., but that Northwest has shown some
The first problem,attaining a charter opposition to the idea Keller has not yet
from the state will likely be decided been briefed on the new school.
early in the year.The state is limited to Also,charter schools do not have to
the number of charters it can grant each meet state requirements for teacher certi-
year and applications already are in place fication.
for more than the maximum 120 "I would anticipate that most of the
allowed teachers will be state certified,but we
As to a location for the school,tem- aren't limited to that,"Petty said.'We-
porary quarters could likely be found in can bring in experts in various Tields to
existing buildings in.Westlake,but a per- supplement the teaching staff."
manent home would take donations from He added that,in order to attract top
individuals or corporations.A permanent teachers,the school will have to provide
home for the school is probably several above average pay and benefits,possibly.
years away,even if it obtains a charter including admission for the teachers'
this year. children.
State education officials are watching Without a large tax base and without
the effort with some.interes4 Petty said, the ability to charge tuition,the school
since this will be the first municipally will,to a degree,depend on private gifts
operatedcharter school in the state. and private fund-raising activities.One
"Charter schools are designed to provide possibility,Petty noted,is for an existing
an education-alternative for students organization or company to build the
whose parents feel they are not getting school's facility and lease it to the town.
an adequate education in their present Size of the student body also is still to
school,"Petty said be determined,but Petty said he doubted
Most existing charter schools in Texas it would ever be more than about 800
have been organized and operated by and probably would begin with 400 or
parents.Petty said that V,esdakes fewer students.
involvement would_bring a degree of sta- °That's another of the questions the
bility and credibility to the new school, committee will have W answer when it
which has been Hamed The Westlake ' meets,"Petty added."But with an antici-
Academy, . paled 4,000 households in the town,
Among the questions still to be about 800 students would be the most
answered is the area in which the school we could expect."
will operate.It probably will be only the One of the initial goals of the school '
town of Westlake,Petty said.This is will be to offer the International
important because the school will be ell- Baccalaureate degree,a high-school .
gible for state funding and all students level program which is accepted for
living in its designated arca will Rave the entrance by most universities around the .
right to attend worlds
Students from other areas can apply "Public schools by law have to try to
for admission,but it will not be guaran- be everything to everybody,"Petty said.
teed: •Charter schools can focus on a more
As a public school,The Westlake -narrow educational curriculum,designed
Academy Will be eligible for limited for a specific student population.We
state financial support,but it will not be anticipate this will help attract interna
able to charge tuition. tional businesses to Westlake."
r OT 11,011-Die
k_�1"I c1t
Texas senators are entity charter schools."
considering, a faulty fix For the next two years. Texas
c;
f6r a school program. ties, counties and universities
would have exclusive power to
There is real danger in the end- issue open-enrollment charters
_of-session fever that grips'Austin and would be given some over-
ci- sight responsibilities over the
every two years. Difficult de C)
sions on important issues get schools that they start.
'delayed until the last days before If compromise is essential here
.-...the Legislature adjourns, and the and it is required-endlessly in
resulting pressure to take action the process of passing public law
can result in bad law. — perhaps public universities
That's what's happening in the could be allowed to start charter
effort to bring order to Texas' schools. These institutions at
chaotic experiment with charter least have a track record in the
,.-schools. field of education.
A Senate bill, drafted in But counties and cities? The
legions of governing boards rep-
response to a House-approved,
two-year moratorium on new resented in these two categories
charters,-would instead give have no educational expertise.
'
charter-granting power to the Texas taxpayers have no reason to
state's universities, counties and trust their judgment as to which
cities. charter applicants should be
S6 instead of the State Board entrusted with tax money.
of.Education deciding which There's a feeling among some
j
charter applicants will get tax- legislators that local government
CI
officials can be trusted to make
payer money,that,declision vvould
be made by any of the governing the right decisions in this area.
boards of more than 30 public Call it blind faith.
universities, 254 counties or 1,186 In the bill approved by a Sen-
incorporated municipalities in ate committee last week, there is
the state. not even a requirement that the
That is not a good idea. proposed "governmental entity
The House Committee on Pub- charter schools" be in the same
ii-c Education got.this ball rolling county or city as the governing
last December with a scathing
a body that approves them, nor is
report on problems in the charter there any requirement that objec-
' gramthA the Legisla- tions be giVen a proper indepen-_
school pro d
ture started in 1995.The report dent hearing before a charter is
cited repeated examples of char-
granted.
ter schools closing suddenly, Less thantwo weeks are left
owing thousands of dollars to the before the Legislature's scheduled
state and leaving hundreds of stu-
May 28 adjournment.The charter
dents to find new schools virtual- school program in Texas is still
.1y overnight. broken, and strong measures are
The committee delivered.30 still needed to make it right.
recommendations for charter But bad law would only open
r
School program improvements the door to more problems. Giv-
and said the Texas Education ing cities and counties the author-
gencity to grant charters would be bad
A y should be given. the
``resources to adequately supervise law.
+charter schools. It recommended
a moratorium on
fiew charters
—while the prob-
lems are brought
tinder control. _4
The Senate bill
incorporates
many of the sug-
gested improve-
A
ments. But some
-powerful state
,.'officials, includ-
ing Gov. Rick
Perry,'object to a
moratorium. So The Associated Press/HARRY CABLUC.-
the idea was born The Texas Senate, presided over by Acting Texas Lt
='to allow what the Gov. Bill Ratliff, is considering a bill that would give char
�5eriate bill calls ter-granting powers to the state's universities, countie-,
_,""a-nvernmental anricifiias
6- 19 --® l
chum Glaillls It Kcctys its cus-
itself, but what if it someday Of 0
K
that policy?What if it sells its .
that policompanies,y?
for example?fis What %.."barter - s ho
ols n e with tales of failure
aintenance organization then
ray your medical bills for can-
!ause you purchase too many In Texas,where,our current president that teachers have either a diploma or a rules."hIe added,"They wanted to elimi- success stories. But there is no evidenc
es each week? has assured us,no child is left behind,a clean record. But it does help explain nate (lie requirement that kids have im- that they can be mass-produced. And a
ig wrong with a little informa- significant number do seem to have been why only about a fifth of the students munizations." talk of accountability seems to conte to
A why not study the product left holding the bag. I passed the state's basic achievement tests The state I louse of Representatives screeching halt, Only a handful of II
which items are selling and Currently in Houston, education ex- in 2000. has passed a bill calling for a two-year schools have had their licenses rcvokck
y are our vital statistics need- perts are watching in a kind of awe as the George W.Bush has taken the charter moratorium on new charter schools and a (A number,however,have been shuticre
ng prices to force customers state educational bureaucracy struggles school message to Washington with him, host of additional regulations, but Gov, when school leaders either ran out r,
with a card just so a company =.x. to come to grips while Texas is left to dig itself out of the Rick"Perry doesn't want to do anything money or Iled town.)This week, the Pc
oration on you is a bit.—well, X.
i"f' with Prepared Ta- hole that the resident's enthusiasm for that might be seen as a repudiation of the publican-dominated state Senate re c ete�
There is somethin wrong / t P P g 1 1 1
g g , : ble, a very large publicly financed nonpublic schools ere- movement a motion that charter schools be requirer
t seeks to penalize customers and financially ated back home. More than 200 charter "He doesn't believe there should be a to get in "acceptable"academie cwhia
with its plan. ' , shaky charter schools were authorized in the past few moratorium on charter schools,"said the tion to get continued financing.
e is that we are losing our pri- , T school that all- years,all of them receiving state stipends governor's spokeswoman, Kathy Walt. The governor's spokeswoman sail
without our knowledge and pears to be edu- of about $5,000 a child under a system "Ile thinks they provide a necessary Mr. Perry thought that charter school
e we don't care to protect it. ?� eating children that was supposed to encourage experi- choice for people whose kids are in fail- "were set up so they could be tike ofuto,
sident assured me that if I felt under conditions mentation by imposing virtually no stan- ing schools," state regulations, and he doesn't believ,
Baling my personal informa- that very closely dards. The legislators presumably envi- There are, in fact, very few Texas Texas should be putting thein under th,
card without giving my name GAIL resemble a disas- sioned schools pioneering new methods public schools that are fining as spectac- requirements public schools are under."
hat option isn't written any- COLLINS 4ter relief center.A of teaching reading,writing and comput- ularly as the charter schools. The state The argument--made by the gover
cation form.In fact,the form local TV station er skills. What Texas taxpayers now are has a system of rating public schools on nor and the senators who opposed scitint
driver's license number and recently ran pictures of kids crammed in- subsidizing, among many other innova- factors like dropout rates and test scores, achievement standards----is that a char
s.They want everything. to a church, where several classes were tions,are a gymnastics school and an ice and last summer a quarter of the charter ter school that is struggling with ditfi
e willing to give up,the more running simultaneously as the students skating school, in which academics in- schools got the bottom-of-the-barrel rat- cult-to-teach students from poor f:unilie:
willing to take. Eventually, slept, talked or sat on the floor so they fringe only a very few hours each day, ing. shouldn't be held to the same shuhdard:
thing left,no privacy,nothing could use the pews as tables. and the parents are charged an extra$90 In 1999-2000, 80 percent of the chil- as schools in the public system. liacl
already known. The school's administration never re- a week so their kids can learn to do the dren in public schools passed the Texas during the campaign, that was known a:
heckout counter question of ally has responded to charges that a siz- death spiral, academic achievement tests — scores "the bigotry of soft expectations," am
is about as personal as I want able slice of the staff is composed of con- "I tried to get a lot of protections in that led some cynics to question whether my recollection is that Mr.Bush def mite
victed felons and that some faculty the beginning," said state Rep. Scott the tests really were all that tough. But ly was against it.
members haven't graduated from high Hochberg, D-Houston, an early charter only 37 percent of the charter school kids
�kle is a free-lance hw•iter school, let alone college. Actually, the school advocate. "The governor's posi- passed. Gail Collins wi-itesJnr the Ncw Purl.
rrclrort. state's charter school law doesn't require tion basically was that we should have no There are, of course, charter school Times.
'Y
BY GARRY TRUDEAU
�X �9 --
WhIML 0 clf-min" .
COOP PARTI AlllAyY F
AZ&05,7 OX75APAf05T,, _
, AVW a Where is it written, "Thou shalt not clone hu- Granted, there are dangers in human cloning, life than we are when we co nc-eive and hear cilli-
mans"?By what standard is coning human beings The whole idea may turn out to he a bust,produc- dren or when we use advanced gene theral,y.
immoral or unethical? ing only malformed infants. If so,a ban would be Our creator is file maker of moral lim s. I(t;o(l
People continue to say there are moral and eth- necessary. But until we find out,outlawing scion- chooses to prevent human cloning, it just won't
ical questions,but they don't delineate them. If a title research would be using file same medieval happen.
majority of people in a democracy vote to outlaw reasoning that nurtured the Dark Ages,So far,on- Millions of potentially adoptable American ba-
something,they don't need ly government-funded research is prevented by bies are being lost to abortion. Couples ycarnini
a moral explanation; the law. fi
'' P y for children are spending small tiortimes to travel
.. ,r,,. 1 - ran incl rfn it A rwr.nnr,n 'r'l,�rn.n..nth,.... ,�I.,ha,l,.r,. ...,.I,Y,;t f,... ...._ r� ... t ,r r•
r
e
THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TExAs
P.O.BOX 12068 ice Committees:
CAPITOL BUILDING 'Ya�
AUSTIN,TEXAS 78711 / NOMINATIONS,CHAIR
512/463-0109 "����_/// EDUCATION
FAX:5121463-0923 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TDD:1-800.735-2989 SENATOR ANE NELSON
DISTRICT OFFICE .•97
900 PARKER SQUARE,SUITE 200
FLOWER MOUND,TEXAS 75028
972/724.0066
FAX 972824-0750 '
E-MAIL.jane.nelson @senate.state.tx.us / y
FE
.r
February 8, 2001
Texas Education Agency
Division of Charter Schools
1701 N. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701
To whom it may concern:
Please give your utmost consideration to the Town of Westlake's application for a charter school.
As a strong supporter of charter schools, I am encouraged by preliminary plans for the Westlake
Academy, a proposed multi-aged, self-paced learning institution with a particular focus on
international business and foreign language. Students interested in pursuing this career path
would have a unique opportunity to gain experience through relationships the town has forged
with international corporations located in and around Westlake.
This charter request is unique in that the applicant is a municipality. In my view this would be
desirable arrangement because municipalities are already subject to public accountability and
have access to reliable financial support.Also construction and maintenance costs could be
shared between the school and the town.
Alliance Corridor would be a wonderful home to a charter school. I hope you will strongly
consider the Town of Westlake's application.
Very truly yours,
Sen or Jane Nelson
FROM HILL FAX NO. Jun. 22 2001 03:01PM P1
Mr. & Mrs. William A. Spies
Woodlands Ct.
Trophy Club,Tx 76262
June 22, 2001
TEA Charter School Division
Austin, TX
Dear Members:
We would like to add our support to others for the proposed opera
enrollment charter school in Westlake, Tx.
We have lived In Trophy Club (adjacent to Westlake) for thirteen years
and have a 1 -year old son. We have seen the area grow commercially,
but there are still fern choices for our children's academic needs. We
would like to see the opportunity of choice that this proposed charter
school could offer the families of this area.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
a. 4
Diane Meier Spies, CPA
Villiam A. Spies
06/22/01 FRI 16:00 ETX/RX NO 71691
t'iUM Harlt Barra -
°i P.
jurie asp®
Charter School Division
Austin, Taxes
To whom It may j
writing I am In RuPPOrt Of the City of Westlake, Texas having
their application for an open enrollment r School approved.
I ovm property In the 1 ty of Westlokip and volunteer as a
Planno'nq and Zoning i i n children
and would love to send them to i i. The City will
maintain the i ghest of standards and ensure the proper funding
and oversight.
It Is Important for the ili live 1 it
children attend a Westlake 1. As It stands now. our kid2s,
friends living in 1 t parts of Westlake would r
schools in i i districts: Keller l r Carroll 180,
and Northwest ® A school helps provides lu rit do corps"
In i Westlake t i link for its kids,
Pleas' r u r application.
regards,Warmest
Hank Barry
06/26/01 TUE 13:54 ITX/RX NO 71871