School Board to vote on Charter
6:50 p.m. Thursday, January 4, 2007
The USD 501 School Board could give the go ahead to bring additional charter schools into the District. In a story you first saw on 49 News, the historic landmark involved in the Brown versus Board lawsuit could be the new home of two charter schools.
Sandy Lassiter and Betty Horton are preparing to make a final push before the USD 501 School Board makes its decision on whether to approve their proposal for charter schools. If the Board gives the proposal the green light, it will open the issue to a public forum which is what Lassiter and Horton are hoping for. Lassiter says she believes the parents and caretakers should have a voice in this process.
Last week, the two took members of the community and local historians on a tour of the Sumner Building which is currently owned by the City of Topeka. Horton estimates it will cost about $5 million to renovate the building to house charter schools, money that she says has already been secured.
"That money is going to come from private donors and private foundations," says Horton.
Since the pair have submitted their proposal, a committee assigned to review the petition brought up several concerns. In a memorandum from the chairman to the Superintendent of Topeka schools, the number one concern is that charter schools will require a shift in funds. Horton says it won't cost the District any additional funds.
Historic Covenant
The city of Topeka, the owner of Sumner School, must follow certain guidelines when deciding on the purpose of the building. One of those purposes could be turning the old building into a charter school. To read the guidelines, download this printable pdf of the Historic Preservation Covenant.
"They simply supply the dollars that walk in the door with the students," says Horton.
Another concern was whether the school would be diverse. Lassiter believes diversity will come naturally.
"The children who are African-American, Hispanic, Caucasian who are not proficient," says Lassiter. "We are accommodating children with a need."
A City spokesman says the City will put out a request for proposal out at the beginning of February. This will give anyone interested in buying the building the opportunity to do so.
USD 501 Charter School Committee Report
Listed below are some major concerns and observations regarding the charter school petitions.
- Significant shift in resources, about $350,000 in the first three years, and financed entirely by USD 501 after that.
- For the Sumner and East Topeka Jr. High facilities, owners of those buildings have presented the District with no proof of insurance protecting USD 501’s students, staff or equipment while the buildings are in use as public schools. And, the committee questions the viability of the use of these two buildings.
- The issue of diversity of the student body concerns the committee because there is no mechanism for determining diversity as required by K.S.A. 72-1906(d) (2).
- Recruitment of vocational teachers presents a problem. It is not clear how apprenticeships will be involved or how the graduates of the program will be credentialed in their skill area.
- The Kansas State Department of Education’s rubic for charter school petitions calls for “new” and “innovative” methods of instruction. The committee is unsure of what those methods would be.
- No detailed budget report has been given to the committee for it to evaluate the adequacy of funding for proposed schools, including Sumner.
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