SUMMARY

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve the staff’s recommendations concerning the proposed fourth revision to the initial charter for Niagara Charter School (Niagara Falls)? 

Background Information

              We received a request from the Board of Trustees of the Niagara Charter School (“the School”), a Board of Regents authorized charter school located in the Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District, to approve a proposed revision to its current charter. The School seeks to change its administrative structure, eliminating the position of Chief Executive Officer, and adjust job descriptions accordingly. 

The Board of Regents granted the School its initial charter on July 22, 2005 for a period of five years, and the School opened for instruction in September 2006 serving 264 students in grades K-4.  In December 2006, the Board of Regents approved a revision to the School’s charter allowing it to increase its enrollment to a maximum of 264 students; in January, 2007 the Board of Regents approved a revision to more accurately identify the number of students from surrounding districts; and in March 2009 the Board of Regents approved a revision to cap the School’s grade level at six. 

              The Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District held a public hearing on January 20, 2010, regarding this proposed revision for the School. No comments were made or received at the hearing and the Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District had no comments.

              Staff recommends that the Board of Regents approve the proposed fourth revision to the initial charter of the Niagara Charter School. 

Recommendation

VOTED: That the Board of Regents approves the revision to the initial charter of the Niagara Charter School, and the provisional charter is amended accordingly.

Reasons for Recommendation

The proposed revision to the School’s charter, along with the other terms of the  charter (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will permit the charter school to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) approving the proposed revision will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school.

Timetable for Implementation

The Regents action for the Niagara Charter School is effective immediately.