Approved was an enrollment increase for Fireweed, from 62 to 90 students, and the continued use of four WHES classrooms.
“The superintendent determines space. If she says space is not available in West Homer or at Homer Middle School, it’s not available. On that basis, I have no alternative but to follow the administration’s recommendation,” said Nels Anderson, a board member from Soldotna.
The vote came after considerable discussion of other facets of the charter school’s proposal. Board member Bill Hatch of Kenai focused on Fireweed’s request to house high school students in the middle school. Sunni Hilts, a board member from Seldovia, said it was the lack of information provided by Fireweed in support of the proposal that made her uncomfortable with the academy’s request.
“The school board is tasked with providing a quality education for each student in the district. We’re faced with an issue that has a lot of questions. Tonight I do not believe I see a program I can approve,” Hilts said.
In October, the board approved the charter school’s reapplication, but chose to postpone the academy’s request for additional space and grade levels until Monday’s meeting. Specifically, the charter school was asking to:
Increase grade levels to include kindergarten, first and second grades and house them at WHES,
Be provided four classrooms at WHES and increase the academy’s enrollment to 90 students,
Increase the number of rooms used at WHES to five; and
Add grades nine-12 and house 30 students in two classrooms at HMS.
The administration’s proposal to the board was to approve the use of four classrooms at WHES and increase enrollment from 62 to 90 students, but not approve the rest of Fireweed’s request.
Since the October meeting, the school board received objections to Fireweed’s proposal from the middle school’s site council.
“Through extensive discussion within the HMS site council and through solicitation of concerns from parent/community members, we, the HMS site council have not identified significant benefits to HMS of such an arrangement of Fireweed Academy within HMS,” the council wrote.
Paul Banks Elementary School’s site council also voiced objection to the proposal.
“Fireweed has a proposal before the school board to expand the charter school to a K-12 program. The site council is not in favor of expanding their charter at this time,” the council wrote to the school board.
Support for Fireweed’s existing program surfaced throughout the Monday meeting.
“We need to develop criteria so Fireweed can reach its optimal numbers within the next couple of years,” said Liz Downing, board member from Homer, adding, “I would love to see things happen for Fireweed Academy this year.”
In the end, the decision came down to classroom space available, as it did two years ago when Fireweed Academy requested and was granted board approval to move from two portable buildings into West Homer Elementary School.
“(The administration) has inspected every square inch and I trust them,” said Sammy Crawford, board member from Kenai.
Put to a vote, the administration’s recommendation was supported by Anderson, Crawford, Downing, Hatch, Hilts and board president Debra Mullins. Voting against it were Debbie Brown of Kasilof and Lynn Hohl of Seward. Board member Marty Anderson of Sterling was excused from the meeting.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.
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