Charter school gets another extension

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA -- Charter school advocates and district officials agreed

this week to spend another 30 days fine-tuning a charter school proposal

before putting it before the public.

“It’s extremely good news for us,” said Brad Jarvis, a member of the

charter school executive board. “We feel we have had extremely fruitful

discussions with the district, and we would like to add additional

breathing room.”

Proponents hope to open the Mesa Leadership Academy in September, with

about 320 students in kindergarten through third grade. They plan to add

fourth and fifth grades over the subsequent two years.

Charter schools are public institutions that usually are organized by

local groups of parents, teachers or community leaders. The specific

goals and operating procedures are detailed in an agreement, or

“charter,” with the local school board.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District board members originally had

until Dec. 27 to approve or reject the petition submitted in October, but

they instead called for a 60-day delay, which pushed that decision to

February.

With the date drawing near again, charter school proponents and

district officials said they are still not ready to publicize the

document.

“The biggest sticking point is the facility,” Jarvis said. “Everything

is being looked at, but I can tell you we are using this time to gather

feedback, and clarify and refine curriculum and finances.”

Supt. Robert Barbot said district staff was updating the group on the

many changes in the district since they began writing the charter two

years ago, so that any new school would offer something new and different

to the community.

“We’re really beginning to identify the possibilities,” Barbot said.