By AMY K. STEWART
Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN - A technology-based charter school seeking to open in Ogden has been turned down by the Ogden School District.
The district recently denied an application by Riverside charter school to open in the city. But organizers of the proposed school are hoping for state approval to override the district's decision.
They are trying to partner with New Century High School, a charter school initially proposed by Gov. Mike Leavitt's office and supported by the Ogden, Weber and Davis districts as well as Weber State University.
The school would have three Top of Utah campuses, including one in Ogden. It may open as early as fall 2004. Each of the four academic partners will have to give New Century an official stamp of approval this spring.
"We have every reason to believe the state will support Riverside," said Stuart Reid, Community and Economic Development Director for Ogden. Reid supports Riverside's proposed opening.
Riverside's application includes opening with 500 students in the American Can building on 20th Street, between Lincoln and Grant avenues in Ogden. Opening the school at the site would help downtown redevelopment.
The charter school's application is now before the state Board of Education for possible approval.
The state board's Law and Policy Committee briefly discussed Riverside's application Friday. Committee members will be studying the application this month, then will meet Nov. 6 to hear presentations from Riverside representatives. The committee will then deliver a recommendation to the state board Nov. 7. The board has until Nov. 15 to approve or deny the application.
Ogden District Superintendent Cathy Ortega said the district denied Riverside's request because the district was already working on the New Century partnership when Riverside put in its application.
"And they're pretty similar," Ortega said. Further, it would be difficult for the district to lose 500 students to Riverside, she said.
Ogden's two public high schools have a combined enrollment of about 3,215.
However, Ortega does support Riverside joining New Century.
"We support the partnering of these two charter schools, a collaborative effort," she said.
As it is, New Century is progressing. Two co-principals have been named for the school, Carl Bruce and Gary Reed. The pair are back East this week touring other high-tech high schools.
New Century officials are open to the idea of partnering with Riverside and have been meeting with Ogden City officials during the past few weeks to discuss the idea.
Both Bruce and Reed have worked in Weber School District. Bruce spent 13 years teaching chemistry and physics and has 17 years experience in administration. His last position was principal of Weber High School.
Reed taught biology for 12 years and was in administration 18 years. He just spent seven years as the principal at T.H. Bell Junior High School.
The co-principals are looking forward to launching the high-tech high school.
"This is on the horizon and will provide a new opportunity for kids, supplementing what is already in existing schools," Bruce said.
In addition to an Ogden campus, New Century expects to also have northern and southern campuses. The schools would offer classes emphasizing math, science and engineering to 400 students throughout Ogden, Weber and Davis school districts. Maximum, combined enrollment drawn from the districts would be 500 students.
Ninth- and tenth-grade students would attend public school for half of the day, then take tech classes the rest of the day at any of the three New Century campuses. Eleventh- and twelfth-graders would attend classes all day at a central location.
The school would allow students to complete two years of college credit by the time they received their high school diploma. Tech internships with area companies would be part of the program.
New Century officials say they also plan to get endorsement from the state Office of Education, although it isn't required.
"We just want their sanction," Bruce said.
Ogden has only one charter school, the Ogden Preparatory Academy, which opened this fall. It now has an enrollment of 213 students.
"All of a sudden, Ogden seems to be generating a lot of charter schools. It could be because they can see the existing charter school," said Patricia Bradley, state Office of Education coordinator for planning and education programs.
Reporter Amy K. Stewart can be reached at 625-4229 or astewart@standard.net.