12-03-2008, 07:17 AM
Kelly, was this meeting recorded? 
![[Image: WA03_CHARTER_P1_scn_feed_20081202_23_12_...ageContent]](http://media1.suburbanchicagonews.com/multimedia/WA03_CHARTER_P1_scn_feed_20081202_23_12_34_45-117-165.imageContent)
Margaret Carrasco of Waukegan, after speaking against the proposed charter high school, listens to the Waukegan School Board on Tuesday at Waukegan High School.
Charter push crushed
Waukegan School Board cites fatal flaws in nonprofit's proposal
December 3, 2008
By RYAN PAGELOW <!-- e --><a href="mailto:rpagelow@scn1.com">rpagelow@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- Citing financial concerns and scant information on how English language learners and students with disabilities would be educated, the Waukegan School Board denied a proposal to build a charter high school Tuesday night.
The district's administration outlined several deficiencies it found in Chicago International Charter School's proposal to open Waukegan College Prep Academy for up to 600 students.
District analysis
To view Waukegan Public School's 21-page analysis of the charter school application and other documents related to the charter proposal, visit <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wps60.org/board/charterproposal.php">http://www.wps60.org/board/charterproposal.php</a><!-- m -->
After analyzing the CICS' application, which was submitted in October, the district deemed the proposal's terms "not economically sound" for the charter or the district, and had concerns over enrollment criteria and transportation for the students. It also wants to give the high school's smaller learning communities initiative a chance when fully implemented next year for its 4,200 students.
Lake County United, a coalition of church congregations that has campaigned for bringing a charter school to Waukegan, does not plan to immediately appeal the district's decision to the Illinois State Board of Education, organizer Rhea Byer-Ettinger said.
But the group has not ruled out petitioning Waukegan residents to get the charter proposal on the April 2009 ballot, she said. If voters support the idea, the state would certify the charter school, not the district.
The School Board voted 6-1 to deny the charter during a special meeting Tuesday night in the Waukegan High School auditorium.
Mark Hawn cast the only dissenting vote, supporting competition to raise the level of education in Waukegan.
"We're not getting it done," he said.
"I feel so frustrated with the state government, the federal government and unions," he said. "It's not built for efficiency. A charter school allows you to go around that."
Other board members rattled off their opposition to the proposal, as well as the process.
"No attempt was made to work with us," said board member Bill Anderson. "It was to intimidate us. This is not a political process."
He described the proposal as "fatally defective" because it didn't include capital costs or where the money would come from.
"It would not be healthy for Waukegan to divert this massive amount of money for selective students," he said. "I'm very disappointed in the whole process."
Michael Rodriguez said the process more resembled a "hostile takeover than a partnership."
Rita Mayfield-Jedkins said she tried to stay open-minded on the issue, but never received a phone call from a Waukegan parent or student in support of a charter school.
"Not one family member, not one student called in favor of the charter school," she said. "I think that says a lot."
Following the vote, CICS Executive Director Elizabeth Purvis said the "spirit of collaboration" is not there between the district and the state's largest public charter school operator with 12 schools.
"We wish they saw us as a partner," she said. "In Chicago they see us as part of the solution, not part of the problem."
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1311006,5_1_WA03_CHARTER_S1.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article</a><!-- m -->
Margaret Carrasco of Waukegan, after speaking against the proposed charter high school, listens to the Waukegan School Board on Tuesday at Waukegan High School.
Charter push crushed
Waukegan School Board cites fatal flaws in nonprofit's proposal
December 3, 2008
By RYAN PAGELOW <!-- e --><a href="mailto:rpagelow@scn1.com">rpagelow@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- Citing financial concerns and scant information on how English language learners and students with disabilities would be educated, the Waukegan School Board denied a proposal to build a charter high school Tuesday night.
The district's administration outlined several deficiencies it found in Chicago International Charter School's proposal to open Waukegan College Prep Academy for up to 600 students.
District analysis
To view Waukegan Public School's 21-page analysis of the charter school application and other documents related to the charter proposal, visit <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wps60.org/board/charterproposal.php">http://www.wps60.org/board/charterproposal.php</a><!-- m -->
After analyzing the CICS' application, which was submitted in October, the district deemed the proposal's terms "not economically sound" for the charter or the district, and had concerns over enrollment criteria and transportation for the students. It also wants to give the high school's smaller learning communities initiative a chance when fully implemented next year for its 4,200 students.
Lake County United, a coalition of church congregations that has campaigned for bringing a charter school to Waukegan, does not plan to immediately appeal the district's decision to the Illinois State Board of Education, organizer Rhea Byer-Ettinger said.
But the group has not ruled out petitioning Waukegan residents to get the charter proposal on the April 2009 ballot, she said. If voters support the idea, the state would certify the charter school, not the district.
The School Board voted 6-1 to deny the charter during a special meeting Tuesday night in the Waukegan High School auditorium.
Mark Hawn cast the only dissenting vote, supporting competition to raise the level of education in Waukegan.
"We're not getting it done," he said.
"I feel so frustrated with the state government, the federal government and unions," he said. "It's not built for efficiency. A charter school allows you to go around that."
Other board members rattled off their opposition to the proposal, as well as the process.
"No attempt was made to work with us," said board member Bill Anderson. "It was to intimidate us. This is not a political process."
He described the proposal as "fatally defective" because it didn't include capital costs or where the money would come from.
"It would not be healthy for Waukegan to divert this massive amount of money for selective students," he said. "I'm very disappointed in the whole process."
Michael Rodriguez said the process more resembled a "hostile takeover than a partnership."
Rita Mayfield-Jedkins said she tried to stay open-minded on the issue, but never received a phone call from a Waukegan parent or student in support of a charter school.
"Not one family member, not one student called in favor of the charter school," she said. "I think that says a lot."
Following the vote, CICS Executive Director Elizabeth Purvis said the "spirit of collaboration" is not there between the district and the state's largest public charter school operator with 12 schools.
"We wish they saw us as a partner," she said. "In Chicago they see us as part of the solution, not part of the problem."
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1311006,5_1_WA03_CHARTER_S1.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article</a><!-- m -->