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Charter high school sought

Publication: American Press;Date: Mar 1, 2012;Section: Front Page;Page: 1

Charter high school sought Foundation sends application to School Board

By Ashley Withers awithers@americanpress.com

The Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation has submitted an application to open a new charter high school to the Calcasieu Parish School Board. The board has 90 days to either approve or reject the application. One of the objectives of the foundation has always been to establish a kindergarten through 12th (grade) school system within our charter school system, said Gene Thibodeaux, the foundation president. Two kindergarten through eighth-grade charter schools have been approved for Lake Charles. Thibodeaux says these schools will serve as feeder schools for the proposed high school. By doing so there is a continuity of instruction, Thibodeaux said. This would allow middle school graduates to finish high school under the same educational model and program that they have been accustomed to. The foundation would like to open the high school for the 2014-2015 school year. If approved, it will be run by Charter Schools USA, the same management company that oversees the other local charter schools. The School Board denied the previous charter school applications put forth by the foundation. I would like to see how theyre d o i n g with the elementary before approving a high school. Right now there is no data, said School Board member Mack Dellafosse. I think theyre jumping the gun, but thats very ambitious of them to go ahead and set up a high school. If the board accepts the application, it would become a partner with the foundation and have a voice in the way the charter school is run. Should the board reject it, the foundation has the option of submitting the application to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Approval by BESE would mean the School Board would have no influence in the proposed schools operation. Parents have told me theyre loving it. I just hope that kids are receiving a quality education, Dellafosse said. Well know that in due time, and if theyre doing great, then I would encourage them to move forward with the high school. Thibodeaux said he was concerned with local charter school students having a high school to which to transition. The community support has been there and the community demand has been there, Thibodeaux said.

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