Parents support new charter school proposal

Parents in Harrison School District 2 and community groups were supportive of the idea of a new charter school that promises to help high-risk students graduate and go to college.

About three dozen people showed up Wednesday evening at the Boys and Girls Club for a meeting for parents and the board of education to learn more about the plans and goals for the proposed Atlas Preparatory School.

Rhonda Anthony, a nurse's aide, likes the college prep aspect of the charter. She said she's "put three children through college. I didn't finish. And now I want the best for my granddaughter."

Danielle Summerville, a fund manager at the area Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Colorado, liked it because it's an affordable opportunity for children and would "enhance what Harrison is doing to get more kids in college."

Rochelle Mason, director of minority students at Colorado College, called the charter's mission "very important."

Retired Col. A. J. Scott, diversity recruiter at the Air Force Academy, said "this will be groundbreaking for Harrison and the city," and said the Air Force is looking for the type of student the charter would provide.

Denise Wisdom, executive director of Urban League of the Pikes Peak Region, said "I'm just ecstatic about the idea."

The school would serve students in grades 5-8, and would be more rigorous than traditional schools. Classes would go from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the school year would be 190 days, compared with the 180-day calendar for most other schools.

After four years, students would have five years of education.

Students would be required to wear uniforms and would be immersed in college prep studies and other programs to create a college mindset.

Only a handful of charter schools nationwide focus on low-performing, low-income students at high risk of dropping out and not going to college.

School founders are associated with Get Smart School, a new Colorado educational reform coalition that will help train the charter school's administrators.

If approved, the school would start in August 2009 with about 100 fifth graders chosen by lottery.

Another public meeting to outline plans for the school will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Southeast YMCA,2190 Jetwing Drive.

The board plans to vote by Nov. 20 on whether to accept the charter school into the district.