Group wants charter school

Sen. Tom Katus working for legislation authorizing charter schools in South Dakota

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff | Thursday, September 20, 2007

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RAPID CITY -- A group that wants to start a Native American charter school in Rapid City has asked Sen. Tom Katus, R-Rapid City, to sponsor legislation that would open the door to charter schools in the state.

Katus organized a meeting of charter-school supporters with state officials and others during the Indian Education Summit here Wednesday.

Rick Melmer, state secretary of education, Keith Moore, state coordinator of Indian Education, Donna DeKraai, president of the South Dakota Education Association, and Glenna Fouberg, a member of the state Board of Education, were among South Dakota educators who attended the meeting. All emphasized that they were just there to listen.

South Dakota is one of only 11 states without legislation permitting charter schools, Katus said. The federal government makes about $48 million available annually to assist with the start-up of charter schools, he said.

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate without many of the rules and regulations that govern public schools. Charter schools approach education differently than more structured public schools, but in return, are held to higher achievement standards.

Rapid City Native Americans interested in starting a charter school have been meeting biweekly for several months, according to Laurette Pourier, director of SANI-T -- the Society for the Advancement of Native Interests -- Today.

And, more people are becoming involved all the time, she said. People want a school that emphasizes Native American tradition and culture.

"Everyone wants better for their children," Pourier said.

Parents would feel comfortable with the school because they would have a say in the school, according to Pourier.

"We know that many of us learn different than white people," she said. "We have different learning styles."

The current education system is not working for Native American students, Pourier said.

Daphne Richards-Cook, a member of the Rapid City School Board, was at the meeting. Richards-Cook has attended several meetings just to listen, she said.

Richards-Cook is concerned about the drop-out rate and disparity in the achievement gap separating Native students and other students. The school district's graduation rate for Native American students was 37 percent, according to the Rapid City School District's 2007 No Child Left Behind report card.

"Rapid City has over 1,000 Native American students who are not going to school," she said.

The district is making progress in addressing these issues, but it is taking "baby steps," Richards-Cook said.

A charter school would have the flexibility to integrate culture and Lakota value standards into education, Richards-Cook said.

A charter school would give Native students a place to excel in academics, sports, music and other areas, she said.

"It would be a place to honor them and keep them in school," Richards-Cook said.

Others spoke about their concerns that the loss of their culture and those inherent values makes it difficult for Native children to succeed.

"We don't know where we would begin, but eventually, we want a K-12 (school)," Pourier said.

The draft legislation that Katus is considering would require teachers in the school to meet all state certification standards. The charter for the school would be granted by the local school board or through the state Board of Education.

SANI-T is hosting another listening session with Melmer and Moore for Native American parents tonight at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel.

Charter School Meeting

Who: Native American parents who are interested in charter-school opportunities for their children

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20

Where: Sheridan & Pactola Room, Best Western Ramkota Hotel, 2111 LaCrosse St.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com