February 2, 2005
Contact: Luci Willits (208) 332-1591

COMMISSION APPROVES OVERSIGHT OF LIBERTY CHARTER SCHOOL

WAITS ON TAYLOR CROSSING SCHOOL, RENAISSANCE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

BOISE - The Idaho Charter School Commission has agreed to act as the oversight entity for one charter school and will wait 60 days before deciding on two others.

The Commission voted 4 to 3 to oversee Liberty Charter School located in Nampa. The school’s approval is contingent on a final resolution of money the charter school owes to the Nampa School District and on Liberty School instituting a more thorough health and safety student policy.

“Liberty Charter School has an outstanding academic reputation,” said Jim Hammond, Chairman of the Commission. “The school has been operating for close to six years and since that time parents have flocked to the school because of its fine academic environment. The Commission had an extensive discussion on some of the challenges facing the school, but overall we believe those issues can be rectified.”

Commissioners also considered two additional petitions - Taylor’s Crossing Charter School in Idaho Falls and Renaissance School of the Arts in Pocatello.

Taylor Crossing School petitioners agreed to a 60-day extension to allow the school to work with the Bonneville School District on the petition. Ideally, the Commission hopes the school district and the Taylor Crossing petitioners will use the extension to come to an agreement.

For the Renaissance School of the Arts, Commissioners voted to extend the time frame to allow additional time to evaluate the petition. The next Commission meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 3 in Boise.