Sisters to host a new charter school

The Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts is a reality. The school will open its doors to 30 Sisters students in kindergarten through sixth grade for the 2007-08 academic year.

Charter schools operate as public schools under Oregon law and receive public funding. The Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts, a legal entity in its own right, will function as part of the Sisters School District.

The Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts will offer a core curriculum, as required by the Oregon Department of Education. The difference from the regular school program is that art will be infused into all aspects of the curriculum.

For example, dance will be taught as a physical education class and architecture will be incorporated into the study of math. Charter school founder Michelle Williams further points out that there will be a great deal of parental involvement in all aspects of the school.

The school has been funded for a three years period: $245,368 for the 2007-08 academic year; $242,016 for 2008-09; and $211,000 for 2009-10. Funding is provided through the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The school was conceived over a year ago by Williams, a Sisters parent. Troubled by what she considered a high student-teacher ratio and the lack of fine arts-centered curriculum in local public schools, Williams decided to explore educational alternatives to offer Sisters' elementary students.

Underlying Williams' concerns was her awareness that population growth in Sisters is substantial and that the Sisters School District must be prepared for the resulting increased enrollment. She is also interested in greater parental involvement in their children's education.

Williams, who previously owned a state-licensed child care facility in California, considered opening her own private school in Sisters. However, after contacting charter school consultants Ron Flenner and Patty Wills, Williams learned that federal funding is available for charter schools.

Williams decided to submit grant applications for a charter school in Sisters.

"I decided to just go for it and see what would happen," she said.

Patty Wills agreed to write the 12 required grant requests. Initially, only four were approved. Wills rewrote the eight requests that had been denied, providing details warranting the necessity of a fine arts-based charter school in Sisters.

In April 2006, the rewritten grant requests were resubmitted and in May 2006, the Oregon Department of Education notified Williams that all 12 grants had been approved

Why a fine arts-based school?

"The community is packed with artists - really fine artists," Williams said.

In June, Williams met in Salem with representatives from the Oregon Department of Education.

The meeting outlined a step-by-step procedure for following required guidelines and emphasized the necessity of staying within the predetermined time lines of the various phases of charter school implementation, as money is dispersed after the compulsory steps of each phase are accomplished.

Phase I of the project has been completed. Phase I consists of: applying for the school's 5013C non-profit status and Tax Identification Number; writing the school's by-laws, policies and procedures and articles of incorporation; and composing the school's ethical conduct (conflict of interest) policies and procedures and procurement standards.

Williams is now working on Phase II. She has submitted the required charter application to the Sisters School District and is waiting for the district's approval or request for modifications to the application.

Ted Thonstad, Sisters School District Superintendent, is in the process of reviewing the application submitted by the Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts to insure that it corresponds to Oregon State Board of Education guidelines and procedures.

"Charter schools are a part of the educational landscape," Thonstad said. "They are supported by the state and federal government. We are talking about the education of children. My bottom line is to do what is best for children."

Any Sisters School District student in grades K-6 may apply to attend the Sisters Charter Academy of Fine Arts. The school has been funded to accommodate 30 students. If more than 30 students apply, a lottery will be held.