Avoyelles School Board rejects two charter applications

   For the second year in a row, two proposed public charter schools were rejected by the Avoyelles School Board. 

Officials with both proposed schools have vowed to seek state approval to open in 2016-17.

   Kimberly Williams of New Millennium, the independent evaluator for the charter applications, presented a report on each school’s proposal.

   Williams recommended rejecting Avoyelles Children’s Charter’s (ACC) application to operate a K-5 elementary school that will eventually be a K-8 school. However, the consultant recommended approving Red River Charter Academy’s (RRCA) proposal for what will begin as a grade 6-8 middle school and eventually be a 6-12 high school housed in the old Garan building in Marksville.

    Board member James Gauthier voted against rejecting both charter applications. Shelia Black-man-Dupas voted with Gauthier while Chris Lacour abstained on the Red River application, resulting in a 6-2-1 vote. Lacour voted with Gauthier in voting against rejecting the Children’s Charter application, resulting in a 7-2 vote.

 

   Williams said ACC’s proposal was unclear in what the school would offer that was unique from the public schools. She said the academic programs are similar to the school district’s. Williams also said the application does not adequately address how it will handle professional development of teachers, how it will meet the needs of students with special needs or disabilities or describe the method of instruction the school will use to deliver services.

   The proposal is clear on how students will be identified, but not on what happens inside the classroom and in pull-out instruction.

   Williams ended her report on the Avoyelles Children Charter by saying the school’s budget has limited cash reserves and contingency funds. She said the school would have a negative cash flow for several months.

    “It is not clear how payroll will be made,” Williams continued, “and if there is an emergency, then there are no funds in place.”

She also expressed concerns over the school’s ability to cover its building-operating costs and said the application allows no room for losing students.

    “If the applicant misses the target by two students,  the budget is immediately negative,” she noted.

    Lori Meche of ACC disagreed, saying the school will be unique from the public schools because the plan will help draw students back into the parish and it will tap into community resources, such as getting local businesses involved in the school. Meche said ACC  will seek to have a business adopt a class that it would work with during the year in lessons, field trips and other activities.

   The school is considering a tract of land for a school site and has been offered the use of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church’s Rateau Center in Hessmer as a temporary school site, Meche said.

    After a long discussion with the Avoyelles Children Charter organizers, the board voted 7-2 to deny the request. 

Red River Charter

   In recommending Red River Charter, Williams said RRCA’s proposal “articulated a theory of change” and a unique approach based on the development of character as a fundamental component of education. The school would have an open enrollment focused on the whole child and family. Williams said the proposal has a clear plan for implementation of curriculum and instruction. It also includes a comprehensive plan for delivery of special education services.

    RRCA has a $200,000 line of credit for start-up costs and has partnered with 4th Sector Solutions, a company with more than 15 years of experience in the back office finance and operation of charter schools.

    Brad Augustine of Brudd Construction, a backer of RRCA, said the school founders have researched the issues for two years.

    District Finance Director Mary Bonnette said the school system could lose almost $5.7 million in state Minimum Foundation Program funds if both schools were allowed to open -- either by School Board approval or by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education without local board approval.

   Board member Lacour said his children attend the Avoyelles Public Charter School. He asked whether some of the ideas presented for charter schools could  be implemented in the district’s  schools to benefit the school system.

   Pat Ours, RRCA board president, said the intent of the charter school is to provide students in grades 6-8 -- and eventually 6-12 -- in low-performing schools with an alternative. The school will strive to attain and maintain a diverse student enrollment.

   Board member Darrell Wiley said allowing charter schools could harm the district’s recently achieved unitary status.

   District Attorney Charles Riddle said U.S. District Judge  Dee Drell would have the final say on whether a charter school could open in the parish, regardless of whether the School Board or BESE might approve it.

   Superintendent Blaine Dauzat opposed creating another charter school in the parish. One reason for his opposition was the prospect of the charter schools pulling teachers from the existing public schools, which would hurt the students enrolled in those schools.

   Blackman-Dupas praised  Avoyelles Public Charter School -- a charter school the School Board rejected that was then established by BESE and approved by the federal court. She said she believes Red River Charter would produce the same results.

   “I am concerned about unitary status,” Blackman-Dupas said, “but I am more concerned about providing the best education possible for a student.”