11-13-2008, 08:02 AM
Big meeting coming up. Sounds like they expect a large crowd.
Public charter high school proposal to be reviewed
November 13, 2008
By RYAN PAGELOW <!-- e --><a href="mailto:rpagelow@scn1.com">rpagelow@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
Among the issues that Waukegan Public Schools officials will consider when reviewing a proposal to open a public charter high school in the city are the charter's goals, pupil performance standards and economic feasibility.
A public hearing regarding the proposal will be held on Nov. 18, which allows representatives of Chicago International Charter School to discuss their proposal to open the Waukegan College Prep Academy next fall with 150 freshmen and to answer questions from District 60 officials. The public will also have an opportunity to comment. Ultimately the school board will accept or deny the charter proposal during a special meeting on Dec. 2.
Public hearing
A public hearing regarding the Chicago International Charter School's proposal to open Waukegan College Prep Academy will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the Trapp Auditorium at the Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Ave.
Anthony Ficarelli, a school attorney who has been involved in several charter proposals in Illinois, outlined the general structure of public hearing during Tuesday's school board meeting.
"I've been to meetings that last three hours to 12 hours," Ficarelli said.
He suggested having residents fill out cards with their name and address if they would like to speak at the meeting for three minutes, the standard allotted time for addressing the school board during public comment. People could speak for 15 minutes or more if they request more time in writing before the meeting.
Ficarelli also suggested the board find out how many representatives from Chicago International Charter School will be presenting.
The charter proposal must address the charter school's objectives, pupil performance standards, calendar, time line for corrective reform if necessary, economic feasibility, student transportation needs and enrollment criteria, Ficarelli said.
About 500 people are expected to attend the Nov. 18 meeting, many of them Spanish speakers, said District 60 Superintendent Donaldo Batiste. The district will provide a Spanish interpreter and has about 20 headsets available on a first come, first serve basis.
Batiste tentatively scheduled a special board meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Trapp Auditorium at Waukegan High School to grant or deny the charter proposal based on the administration's recommendations.
The Illinois State Board of Education would then have two weeks to concur or deny the proposal. If District 60 denies the charter, the state board could overrule, and the state would be the charter provider, as is the case with the county's only charter school Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake. Charter schools have to submit an audit to the state every year and renew their charter every five years.
The proposed Waukegan College Prep Academy would open temporarily in classrooms on the upper floor of Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 800 S. Genesee St. for its first year. Then the school would find a more permanent site in Waukegan for up to 600 freshmen through seniors.
Waukegan
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Public charter high school proposal to be reviewed
November 13, 2008
By RYAN PAGELOW <!-- e --><a href="mailto:rpagelow@scn1.com">rpagelow@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
Among the issues that Waukegan Public Schools officials will consider when reviewing a proposal to open a public charter high school in the city are the charter's goals, pupil performance standards and economic feasibility.
A public hearing regarding the proposal will be held on Nov. 18, which allows representatives of Chicago International Charter School to discuss their proposal to open the Waukegan College Prep Academy next fall with 150 freshmen and to answer questions from District 60 officials. The public will also have an opportunity to comment. Ultimately the school board will accept or deny the charter proposal during a special meeting on Dec. 2.
Public hearing
A public hearing regarding the Chicago International Charter School's proposal to open Waukegan College Prep Academy will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the Trapp Auditorium at the Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Ave.
Anthony Ficarelli, a school attorney who has been involved in several charter proposals in Illinois, outlined the general structure of public hearing during Tuesday's school board meeting.
"I've been to meetings that last three hours to 12 hours," Ficarelli said.
He suggested having residents fill out cards with their name and address if they would like to speak at the meeting for three minutes, the standard allotted time for addressing the school board during public comment. People could speak for 15 minutes or more if they request more time in writing before the meeting.
Ficarelli also suggested the board find out how many representatives from Chicago International Charter School will be presenting.
The charter proposal must address the charter school's objectives, pupil performance standards, calendar, time line for corrective reform if necessary, economic feasibility, student transportation needs and enrollment criteria, Ficarelli said.
About 500 people are expected to attend the Nov. 18 meeting, many of them Spanish speakers, said District 60 Superintendent Donaldo Batiste. The district will provide a Spanish interpreter and has about 20 headsets available on a first come, first serve basis.
Batiste tentatively scheduled a special board meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Trapp Auditorium at Waukegan High School to grant or deny the charter proposal based on the administration's recommendations.
The Illinois State Board of Education would then have two weeks to concur or deny the proposal. If District 60 denies the charter, the state board could overrule, and the state would be the charter provider, as is the case with the county's only charter school Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake. Charter schools have to submit an audit to the state every year and renew their charter every five years.
The proposed Waukegan College Prep Academy would open temporarily in classrooms on the upper floor of Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 800 S. Genesee St. for its first year. Then the school would find a more permanent site in Waukegan for up to 600 freshmen through seniors.
Waukegan
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