Charter Award Potluck and Celebration, Aug 2

Help us Celebrate!
Saturday August 2, 2008
5:00pm to 7:00pm.

PCEI Campus, 1040 Rodeo Dr
Moscow, ID

Come celebrate finally getting the Palouse Prairie charter approved and the completion of our summer camp adventure on sustainable agriculture. Kids have been planting and monitoring fast plants from seed-to-seed and working in the Community Garden and learning some dancing (busy two weeks)

Please invite a guest who might want to learn more about Palouse Prairie School

Children's program
A short program capping the 2-week summer experience will happen about 5:15.

Potluck about 6PM

• Grilled salmon (thanks to a Palouse Prairie donor).
• There are several vegetarian salads on the way, you are invited to bring more delicious items to share.
• Ice water will be provided.
• Plates, cups and silverware will come from the "Plate Project," so hopefully we will be light on waste.

Questions, email Nils Peterson

Palouse Prairie Plans

Originally published in the August 2008 Moscow Food COOP news

Twelve months and counting until Palouse Prairie opens an Expeditionary Learning charter school at the Now & Then Antiques location on Palouse River Drive in Moscow. With the help of many supporters, the Charter was approved June 26. If you want to catch up on the news, try http://WhyPalousePrairie.blogspot.com

Here’s a timeline. We are working on a conditional use permit (CUP) now. This fall will be designing the school facility, and planning food and transportation. Children will apply to attend in winter. Hiring of teachers will happen in the spring and remodeling and landscaping work will begin June 09.

We are ready for volunteers! Getting a CUP involves designing a landscape buffer between the building and the street. Natural Abode donated "Greening School Grounds" and Amy Grey (Backyard Harvest) pointed us to the Edible Schoolyard work by Alice Waters. Help with landscape design, or other CUP work is welcome.

We are also looking for a volunteer to write 300 words each month to keep friends of the school updated. Venues will include the DNews letters and the CO-OP news. We also need a Calendar-minder to think of, and maintain, the list all the events on the Moscow civic calendar (e.g., Ren Fair, Rendezvous) where Palouse Prairie should be involved. In addition to warm fuzzies and learning more about EL, volunteers will have a hand in deciding the 1001 things needed to open a school.

In September there will be several events for parents to learn more about EL, including a workshop and a trip to see an EL school in Spokane Valley. Watch our website for the most up to date information.

For volunteer opportunities and news, if you have an idea of something you want to contribute and to get on the email list, contact Nils Peteson, nilspete@gmail.com

HER VIEW: Charter schools provide quality education

By Briana LeClaire,
July 11, 2008

Isn't it surprising when the Daily News reports the obvious? Readers were recently informed the Moscow School District will receive less money if it loses students to the new Palouse Prairie Charter School (July 4). Since public school funding has always followed the child, Idaho's public charter school law, created in 1998, has meant some public school funding has been following children into public charter schools for 10 years. In other words, this latest story gives a sour taste, but it is not news.

As the president of the Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families, I congratulate Moscow families on expanding their public school choices. The coalition is the voice of thousands of students, parents and teachers who together work to make Idaho's public charter schools a success story. While the choices offered by Idaho public charter schools may not be for every student, these options meet a critical need for many Idaho families. Offering high-quality curriculum, flexible, individual instruction, and the oversight of certified Idaho teachers, charter schools are helping many students to thrive outside of traditional public schools.

From teachers' union leaders to homeschoolers, everyone agrees educational choice is desirable. Many Idaho school districts have embraced choice and present parents with different options. Idaho's largest school district, Meridian, offers a performing arts elementary school, technical-professional schools, year-round schedules, and will offer an International Baccalaureate high school starting this fall. Ten years ago, the Boise School District was losing students and it responded with school choices including a math and science junior high school, dual language schools, a Harbor Method elementary, a Montessori school and more. Choices in the form of charter schools are in dozens of Idaho communities including Kuna, Twin Falls, Sandpoint, Mountain Home, Nampa and Pocatello.

Until now, Moscow's major public school innovation has been the Moscow Charter School, which was chartered by and is funded through the Moscow School District. It is popular, boasting an enrollment of 146 students, 20 children on the kindergarten waiting list, and 41 waiting altogether. The Palouse Prairie Charter School further increases choice in Moscow. Opening in fall 2009 with 75 students and aiming for 200, it will be an Expeditionary Learning school. Expeditionary Learning is a proven educational model that has had success both nationwide and regionally at the 10-year-old ANSER Charter School in Boise, Pocatello Community Charter School and Summit School in Spokane Valley. The idea of an Expeditionary Learning school in north Idaho is very exciting news for those of us in the charter school movement.

The chartering process is demanding, with an outcome that is far from certain. As was reported in the Daily News, after several attempts Palouse Prairie's charter was finally approved in June. Because of a perceived competition for resources, the chartering process can lead to animosity. Divisiveness might sell papers, but what will benefit all the publicly schooled children in Moscow, traditional and charter alike, is a spirit of collaboration where each school excels to meet its students' needs. Because one-size-fits-all never fits anyone correctly, it's time to stop expecting one type of school - or even one type of public charter school - to fit all public school students.

Parents should have the right be as involved in their children's education as they want to be. The families of Palouse Prairie public charter school have labored for years to bring forth an innovative, effective and inspiring school that will enhance the entire region. I encourage you to learn more about both of Moscow's public charter schools and the choices they offer. Who knows? One of them may even be the best fit for your family.

Briana LeClaire, a former Moscow resident, is the president of the Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families. Her children are enrolled in the Idaho Virtual Academy, a virtual public charter school. She lives in Meridian.

Biz Bits: Business stays put for now, and then could move later

Charter school won't displace used furniture, antique store yet
By Murf Raquet
July 12, 2008

Larry Woodbury has owned the building that houses Now & Then, a used furniture and antique store, for years. H took over the business in December. He recently reached a deal to lease part of the building to Palouse Prairie Charter School.

"It looks like they'll take over the upstairs in June 2009," Woodbury said. "Until then it's business as usual."

That message was lost after it was announced that Palouse Prairie would receive a charter and had a site for the school.

"I don't want people to think we're closed," he said.

In October 2009, the school will take over the basement. At that point Woodbury will move to a new location or continue the business from his barn in rural Moscow.

He also could look at selling the business or taking some inventory to antique shows.

The building has 4,000 square feet of space on each floor and formerly housed the Moscow High School wood shop.

Remodeling for classrooms and offices is planned before the school becomes operational.

Woodbury has done extensive cleaning at the business and upgraded the inventory, including European antiques such as hutches and washstands. He's also adjusted prices to make items more affordable.

Woodbury purchases a portion of the store's inventory locally, including clean mattresses, he said.

In addition to Now and Then, Woodbury owns and operates Four Seasons Lawn Care and rental apartments.

"There's plenty to do to keep busy," he said.

The school's lease is for three years with an option to renew for another three years.

Now and Then is located at 310 E. Palouse River Drive. Business hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (208) 882-7886.

MSD could pay a price for new charter school

By Devin Rokyta, Daily News staff writer
July 4, 2008

Palouse Prairie Charter School's impending opening could affect the amount of money the Moscow School District receives from the state.

It also could limit any potential new hiring by the district.

Palouse Prairie officials expect to enroll 75 students when the school opens in the fall of 2009, and its latest plans call for its four-classroom school to be located at 321 E. Palouse River Drive - the current location of the Now & Then antique shop.

The school initially will enroll students in grades K-6, but expects to eventually expand to serve seventh- and eighth-graders as well.

Tim Hill, deputy superintendent of finance at the Idaho Department of Education, said state funding is derived from a complicated formula that takes into account a school's average daily attendance, grade level of students and staff experience. Schools receive more money for high school students than elementary-age students, and more for staff members with experience. According to state figures, the Moscow School District received an average of $8,052 per student for the 2006-07 school year.

While there are several variables in determining funding and exact figures can't yet be determined, the potential loss of 75 students could have negative consequences for the school district, Superintendent Candis Donicht said.

"A key number in the funding formula has to do with head counts," she said.

Money for some of Palouse Prairie's budget will come from the state using the same funding formula. Moscow Charter School is chartered by MSD and receives funding through the district.

The district should have a better idea of Palouse Prairie's effect on its budget in the spring, when the new charter school releases its roster.

"It remains to be seen," Donicht said. "For funding purposes and staffing purposes we should know soon.

"What it boils down to is you have to staff appropriately for the students you are anticipating," she added. "You don't need additional teachers if the student numbers don't warrant it. No one can afford to be overstaffed, but we can't afford to be understaffed either."

In the worst-case scenario the new school could result in a loss of jobs for the district.

"That remains to be seen," Donicht said. "With a new school starting up it's not likely that we will be adding teachers."

Palouse Prairie's charter was approved last week, when the Idaho Public Charter Commission voted to reverse an earlier denial of the proposed school's charter petition.

Palouse Prairie officials first sought charter approval through the Moscow School District in 2006. However, board members stopped the process in September 2006 and decided to apply for a charter through the state commission instead.

The commission denied the school's initial attempts to secure a charter because of concerns related to its budget and the lack of a suitable facility. The Palouse Prairie board of directors had proposed two possible sites for the school, including a spot near The Silos development in east Moscow and the first floor of the 1912 Center in Moscow.

School officials satisfied those concerns at an appeals hearing by proposing a new location on Palouse River Drive and securing two grants that addressed budgetary issues.

The school still must secure a conditional use permit from the city of Moscow and address several remodeling issues before the school can be opened. Devin Rokyta can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 237, or by e-mail at drokyta@dnews.com.

Thank you to supporters

Originally written as a letter to the Editor of the Daily News in response to the article on PP getting its charter:

Thank you for the story covering the awarding of a Charter to open Palouse Prairie School. I want to express my appreciation for the enduring and diverse support of friends of our Expeditionary Learning School. From the original Board who kindled the spark, to all those who have come forward with guidance, funding, facilities, and encouragement, I appreciate everyone's contributions.

I would also like to invite the community to participate in the process of developing the school to serve the area. Expeditionary Learning is an inclusive curriculum that combines collaboration and hands-on projects with high academic achievement and community involvement. Anyone interested in learning more or getting involved can get on an email list by contacting Nils Peterson. There is still time to enroll children in our summer expedition on sustainable agriculture by visiting the website. More information for prospective families will be coming out during the fall and winter, with applications being accepted in Spring 09 for school opening in August 2009.