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.

Palouse Prairie granted charter

Proposed school plans to locate on Palouse River Drive, open to students in fall 2009

By Devin Rokyta, Daily News staff writer
June 27, 2008

Palouse Prairie Charter School officials cleared a major hurdle Thursday in their attempt to open a school in Moscow, when the Idaho Public Charter Commission voted to reverse its earlier denial of the group's charter petition.

School officials hope to locate the four-classroom facility at 321 E. Palouse River Drive - the current location of the Now & Then antique shop - and have the school open for students in August 2009.

Nils Peterson, chairman of the Palouse Prairie board of directors, said the school expects to enroll 75 students in grades K-6 for its inaugural year. School officials plan to eventually educate seventh- and eighth-graders as well.

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

The state denied the school's first attempts at securing 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.

Commission Chairman Bill Goesling of Moscow said school officials addressed those concerns at an appeals hearing in late May and at Thursday's meeting. The new location they proposed on Palouse River Drive alleviated location concerns and they secured two grants that addressed budgetary issues.

"This gave us a more comfortable feeling that they had the resources and the facilities to make a go at it," Goesling said.

Peterson is pleased to see the proposed school is now making headway.

"It's been three-and-a-half years getting this far and we are excited to finally get out of the starting gates," Peterson said. "This was not a one-person show, this was a team effort."

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. Peterson is confident the city will approve a permit.

"I think we can make a convincing case and I think the location we found is not going to be problematic to its neighbors," Peterson said.

Moscow School District Superintendent Candis Donicht is on vacation and was not available for comment.

More information about the Palouse Prairie Charter School can be found at PalousePrairieSchool.org.

Devin Rokyta can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 237, or by e-mail at drokyta@dnews.com.

Denial Overturned - Charter Awarded

In a historic move, the Idaho Public Charter Commission just voted to reverse its decision of March 6 and to approved the Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning's Charter petition, to open in August 2009. The decision was based on new materials developed since the March denial and submitted first to an Appeals officer and then refined and submitted to the Commission today.

The location that Palouse Prairie proposed as its first choice facility is currently Now & Then Antiques at 321 East Palouse River Drive. Commissioners expressed concerns over remodeling costs and the budget and urged attention to resolution of those issues as well as beginning planning for pupil to-school transportation to the site.

I want to express tremendous thanks to Palouse Prairie's supporters for getting us this far. Its been a long road, and now the work really begins.

Expeditionary Learning emphasizes teamwork as part of its learning strategy and the greatest successes of Palouse Prairie to date have come from teamwork, among the Board and between the Board and parents and supporters. The next phase, from Charter to Opening in 2009 will require more learning teams, and the Board welcomes contact from supporters with offers of collaboration and other resources.

Next steps include clarifying remaining remodeling issues and then moving forward with a contract to lease and obtaining a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Moscow to operate a school.

Families interested in learning more about Palouse Prairie are invited to consider enrolling children in a summer expedition this July 21-Aug 1. More information and enrollment is available at the website: PalousePrairieSchool.org

Palouse Prairie Awarded Charter

Unpublished article written for Moscow Food COOP news


Written by Nils Peterson, Board Chair

In a historic move, the Idaho Public Charter Commission just voted to reverse its decision of March 6 and to approved the Palouse Prairie School of Expeditionary Learning's Charter petition, to open in August 2009. The decision was based on new materials developed since the March denial and submitted first to an Appeals officer and then refined and submitted to the Commission today. The location that Palouse Prairie proposed as its first choice facility is currently Now & Then Antiques at 321 East Palouse River Drive.

This news item exemplifies one of the ten design principles of an expeditionary school. # 5 Success and Failure says: "All students need to be successful if they are to build the confidence and capacity to take risks and meet increasingly difficult challenges. But it is also important for students to learn from their failures, to persevere when things are hard, and to learn to turn disabilities into opportunities.” The March denial and appeal process was an occasion for the Palouse Prairie Board to learn from perseverance. Additional work to discover and research the Now & Then facility and access to additional grant funds turned the corner.

Expeditionary Learning emphasizes teamwork as part of its learning strategy and the greatest successes of Palouse Prairie to date have come from teamwork, among the Board and between the Board and parents and supporters. The next phase, from Charter to Opening in 2009 will require more learning teams, and the Board welcomes contact from supporters with offers of collaboration and other resources.

Next steps include clarifying remaining remodeling issues and then moving forward with a contract to lease and obtaining a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Moscow to operate a school. The PalousePrairieSchool.org web site has opportunities to volunteer, links to EL resources and more information about the school. Contact nilspete@gmail.com

Palouse Prairie and Systems Change

Originally published in the April 2008 Moscow Food Coop newsletter

"We are satisfied with our model, it produces the results we want." That was Superintendent Donich's answer declining to collaborate with Palouse Prairie on an Expeditionary Learning model school in Moscow School District. That answer summarizes Clayton Christensen's argument in "Innovator's Dilemma" for why successful organizations don't adapt to new markets. Christensen teaches at Harvard Business School and studies why some of the best run companies in America declined or failed.

COOP members have been voting to change systems, like the agri-industrial complex, that are not sustainable and healthy. Your choices are reforming food systems and making businesses consider the whole and wholesome. The traditional school may not produce results you want because it doesn't assess the way it should. “This isn't a multiple-choice world," Wayne C. Johnson, VP for worldwide university relations at Hewlett-Packard (Wasley, P. 2008. Tests Aren't Best Way to Evaluate Graduates' Skills, Business Leaders Say in Survey, The Chronicle of Higher Education)

In March, Palouse Prairie charter school was awarded one of Idaho's first Vision grants, worth $20,000, to start a tuition free, non-religious, public school in Moscow, offering the integrated project-based curriculum called Expeditionary Learning. Our vision is to offer an inclusive, respectful and supportive learning environment that nurtures the individual as a thoughtful participant in our local and global community. The grant and a generous donation from Tri-State, will be used for school planning and to offer a summer expedition, giving Moscow hands-on with Expeditionary Learning.

We are appealing the Charter Commission's denial of our school's petition, networking in the community to develop facilities options, and moving forward to offer educational choice. You can vote for school change. A survey on our website will let you tell us what you have to offer. You can also learn more about us and the EL model.

Palouse Prairie denied charter

Be sure to read the last 2 paragraphs of this article -- the glass is more than half full!

By Hadley Rush, Daily News staff writer
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - Page Updated at 12:00:00 AM

Palouse Prairie Charter School officials still hope to open their doors in fall 2009 despite having their charter application denied last week in Boise.

The Idaho Public Charter School Commission turned down the proposed Moscow charter school's application Thursday. It was the second time Palouse Prairie officials had applied for a charter from the commission.

Commission Chairman Bill Goesling of Moscow said the proposed school will receive official notification by the end of the week, declining its application.

He said there were two major areas of concern - the school's budget and the lack of a suitable facility.

"When they made the first application, we (also) mentioned those concerns," Goesling said.

Idaho Charter Schools Program Manager Tamara Baysinger said the commission was pleased with Palouse Prairie's educational program, but there wasn't sufficient evidence that the school would succeed financially.

"The commission acknowledged that the petitioners did a lot of work," Baysinger said. "Unfortunately, there still wasn't an adequate facility."

Baysinger said although it's possible the school still could open in 2009, that is unlikely.

The petitioners would either have to go through the appeals process or start over with a new charter petition, which could take eight months to a year, she said.

Nils Peterson, chairman of the Palouse Prairie board of directors, had previously identified 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.

Silos officials had offered to build a facility for the school, Peterson said.

Peterson said a charter school commissioner had recommended Palouse Prairie "find an angel to help with the facility issue."

"We thought we had found an angel in the offer from The Silos to build us a facility, but commissioners expressed concerns that the facility was small and would ... be outgrown," he said.

Peterson said the use committee for Heart of the Arts, Inc., which manages the 1912 Center, has "provided Palouse Prairie a draft of its application questions for tenants."

"I'm really pleased," he said. "This gets us closer to having the conversation with HAI about leasing space."

Heart of the Arts Executive Director Jenny Sheneman has said it's probably not feasible to have a charter school in the 1912 Center due to space constraints.

Sheneman also has said there would be problems with parking spaces, as well as occupancy regulations.

"It's a community center and we don't necessarily want to occupy it with a school," Sheneman said.

Sheneman said Palouse Prairie's projected opening date also would take the 1912 Center out of the running. The first floor of the center likely won't be ready for occupancy until 2010.

"The timetable is just ridiculous," she said.

Peterson wrote in a Monday e-mail to the Daily News that despite "uncertainties at present," he still thinks the 1912 Center is an appealing option.

"We will work with (the center) to see if those (uncertainties) can be nailed down," he wrote.

Peterson wrote that the board also will continue to look for more location options.

"We are continuing to work with a Realtor looking for other solutions," he wrote. "It looks like a buyers' market right now. I welcome anyone with a creative idea."

Peterson indicated that the State Department of Education awarded a $20,000 Vision grant to Palouse Prairie officials. The money will be used for staff support, board training, curriculum design and planning for the Palouse Prairie summer expedition.

Peterson said the summer expedition program is scheduled for the last two weeks in July.

Hadley Rush can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 239, or by e-mail at hrush@dnews.com.