Proposed D-11 charter school gets nod; a second withdraws

One week after two groups presented charter school plans to the Colorado Springs School District 11 board, one group withdrew its proposal, and the administration recommended approval of the second.

An administrative review committee gave high marks to the proposed Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning, a K-8 school for students that would open in fall 2010 if approved. The D-11 board will decide whether to grant the charter at the Dec. 16 meeting.

Several parents and a young student spoke in support of the school during a public hearing Wednesday before the administration presentation. They emphasized the need for a school that addresses the particular needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students.

Board members questioned various aspects of the proposal, including the percentage of money that would go toward instruction, how much special education support would be provided, and why there was no plan for food service.

Representatives of the proposed school said they continually evaluate the special education plan because they know the school will have students who need various services. They also said food service will be provided, but they haven’t decided on a particular service.

During the public hearing, a representative of the proposed Colorado Springs Vocational Academy said the group was withdrawing its application so it could collaborate with D-11 and resubmit a proposal next year.

Candice Collins said the district review committee found several shortcomings that must be addressed. According to a presentation attached to the meeting agenda, the administration was going to recommend against granting a charter for the vocational school.

However, Collins said the district and the CSVA representatives have been talking, and both want to pursue vocational programs that aren’t offered now.

“The delay will be better in the long run because it will be better for the students,” Collins said.

The group still wants to operate a charter, but she said it will pursue options such as contracting services to the district.

“We want to maintain autonomy from the district, but there are many details to work out,” she said.

In other discussion Wednesday, Superintendent Nicholas Gledich updated the board on weather-related problems at several schools because of extreme cold. Russell Middle School closed Wednesday because of frozen pipes and flooding but was scheduled to reopen today.

Other schools that had frozen pipes, flooding or heating problems included Madison, Taylor, Chipeta and Columbia elementary schools. Those schools all were open Wednesday, although some classrooms were chilly, Gledich said.
He said administrators will look at temperature monitoring, weatherization and other solutions to avoid problems in severe weather in the future.