Ten years ago local parents and educators began discussions about starting a charter school. Based on the premise that some students learn better when they have more control of their environment and when lessons are individualized and tied to real-world applications, the founders established a program with the mission to provide opportunities for growth in six learner outcomes: self reliance, creativity, cooperation, reasoning ability, personal growth and academic achievement.
The original Homer Charter School, now renamed Fireweed Academy, was founded on the philosophical premise of education that addresses the whole child. Our program strives to implement Theme Immersion, Socratic Practice, Project and Problem Based Curricula and Experiential Learning in dynamic multi-age groupings.
A charter school is a public school that, among other requirements, operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives determined by the school’s developer and is agreed to by the authorized public chartering agency. It is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies and employment practices, and it is not affiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution. Charter schools do not charge tuition and are schools to which parents choose to send their children.
If more students apply for admission than can be accommodated, admission is based on a lottery. Charter schools comply with the same federal and state audit requirements as do other schools in the state and operate in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Charter schools have a written performance contract with the authorized public chartering agency in the state that includes a description of how student performance will be measured.
Issues specific to Fireweed Academy:
• Funding: Since Fireweed has fewer than 150 students, our funding is based on that of the largest school in the district (Skyview) and is funded at a substantially lower rate than West Homer Elementary School or Homer Middle School. Once we reach 150 students, a school size adjustment as a separate school is applied based on an “economy of scale” table found in Alaska Statute 14.17.450. Fireweed would then be funded at the same rate as WHE and HMS. This is additional money brought into the district, not deducted from the district or at a cost to other schools. The district is required by law to provide the charter school with all the funds generated by charter school students less indirect cost (3.65 percent). In contrast, all funds generated by noncharter school students go into the district’s general fund and are then allocated to schools. Charter schools currently do not receive local effort funds.
• Special education: The district is required to provide special education services to all students in the district regardless of where they go to school. Prior to 1998, there were categorical funds allocated to the district. Now the district gets a lump sum in a block that is 20 percent of the student population. Fireweed students are included in that total student population when the additional 20 percent is calculated and so contribute to the special education allocation.
• Schools do not pay rent or build facilities. The operating budgets of all schools pay only for utilities and repairs. Fireweed students comprise 23 percent of the total West Homer Elmentary facility population. Even though we are allocated less than 23 percent of the facility, Fireweed pays for 23 percent of the building utilities.
• Fireweed pays for 23 percent of the custodial supplies and 3.5 hours per day of custodial time.
• Fireweed pays for 23 percent of the nurse’s salary. The district has allocated 35 hours of her week to West Homer Elementary and five hours to Fireweed.
• Fireweed students are required to take all district-required assessments.
• Fireweed teachers are required to follow all district-negotiated agreements.
• Fireweed follows all school district policies, calendars and regulations, even though charter school law permits a charter school to request waivers.
Since 1997, Fireweed Academy has been providing the only publicly funded alternative academic programming for elementary and middle school students in the Homer area. We enthusiastically look forward to continuing to offer this option to our community.
Janet Bowen is the outreach coordinator for Fireweed Academy. This column was written in conjunction with the Fireweed Academy Academic Policy Committee. The committee includes Teresa Dobbins, Cathy Nott, Kiki Abrahamson, Carla Baird, Gary Betley, Bonnie Jason, Bonnie Powell and Liz Doan.
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