Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Charter school supported

Duane Barbati News-Bulletin Staff Writer; dbarbati@news-bulletin.com

The New Mexico Public Education Commission held a public hearing on the University of New Mexico-Valencia County campus for a new charter school in Los Lunas on Monday.

The School of Dreams Academy's six founders and governing council are seeking approval to start a new school in Los Lunas.

SODA co-founder Michael Ogas said he hasn't heard of anyone in the area who is objecting to the idea of a new charter school being established in Los Lunas.

"We're offering individual attention for students to progress to the curriculum at a rate to their abilities," Ogas said. "We will get the kids into the community through mentorships. We have partnered with Youth Development Inc."

He said he believes SODA offering mentorships and YDI involvement will prepare students for better career opportunities.

"We will have a strong family component," Ogas said. "We will require parents to volunteer their time. We will create a different educational climate with parents being welcomed and involved with their kids learning. We can do it with a smaller learning environment."

Los Lunas Schools Superintendent Walter Gibson attended the public hearing and addressed the PEC members at the public forum.

"We're not opposed to this charter school," Gibson said. "The school board and myself are not afraid of competition. The Los Lunas School Board's stance is competition is good."

The 60 parents attending the public hearing were in favor of having an alternative option to the public school system for their children's education.

Victoria Flores said she is in favor of a charter school opening in Los Lunas.

"As a parent, we need an alternative to our children's education," Flores said. "There has to be more for our youth so they can be successful."

Christina Medrano said she has three children that will be attending private school in the future.

" I am in favor of an alternative school," Medrano said. "I have concerns with the No Child Left Behind Act. I think our kids are missing out on creative ways to learn because it doesn't fit into the testing. They're teaching them to pass the test."

She said she feels that children in New Mexico aren't receiving a good education.

"I think teachers and students are missing out on educational opportunities because of the need to pass a test," Medrano said. "I like the smaller number of students in a classroom, parents being required to be involved in their children's education and the creative teach methods."

SODA will offer classes to children in grades seven to 12. The school will focus on enhancing student achievement through utilization of instruction in the arts, literacy, character education and community involvement through various serviced learning opportunities. The location of the school is yet to be determined, but the founders have been seeking a facility within the Los Lunas area.

PEC members are scheduled to vote to authorize or deny the application for SODA at their next meeting in September.

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