Canyon Rim as a charter school?
Granite board will be asked to let facility live on in a new form
The proposed Canyon Rim Academy would build on the current school's arts emphasis and showcase innovative curriculum and community involvement opportunities, charter applicant and parent Erik Olson said Thursday.
The school seeks an August opening. The group is expected to file a formal application within days.
"This isn't a secession from the school district. This is something that will essentially form a partnership between our school and the school district," Olson said. "The school is a treasure. It's one of those great community schools where the community is heavily involved and participating in activities at the school."
Martin Bates, assistant to the Granite superintendent, has been talking with Olson and received draft applications. He said the board could discuss the proposal in its March 28 meeting.
The board last November voted to close Canyon Rim and Meadow Moor elementaries, and turn Granite High into an umbrella school focused on academic "academies" and overseeing Central High alternative school and the Young Parents Program.
But its action ignited a firestorm of controversy. Several residents earlier this month successfully pushed for a new law — Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed it Thursday — helping cities create their own school districts. South Salt Lake, Holladay and West Valley City, all in Granite District, have expressed interest.
Olson said the closure inspired Canyon Rim residents to try to keep the school open. The group settled on a charter application.
The Open Classroom at Salt Lake City's Washington Elementary is the only other existing public school attempting to convert to a charter, which allows for greater freedom in curriculum and governance within the public school system, said Marlies Burns, education specialist in the state charter office.
But Canyon Rim Academy might hit a financial stumbling block with a quick turn-around. It wouldn't be immediately eligible for state start-up grants. School leaders want to start school in six months. State law requires a 10-month wait to be eligible for that money. The intent is to give enough time to prepare, hire and find a facility. "This first year will need to be lean and mean — we will be on an extremely streamlined budget and won't have as many programs in the beginning," Olson said.
"What's great about this situation is it will provide a good amount of funding to Granite School District because we are going to have to rent the building and it is going to keep these kids in the Granite Skyline High and Wasatch Junior High network," Olson said "It gives (Granite) one more full elementary school in its network that they don't have to pay for. They'll continue to get tax money from this community without having to educate the elementary school kids in that community."
E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com; terickson@desnews.com
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