CHARTER SCHOOLS -- FIRST OF FOUR PARTS; SEMO MOVES CAREFULLY ON CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP

Southeast Missouri State University could play a key role in launching charter schools in St. Louis.

But university officials have yet to decide how they will react when or if they are asked to sponsor a charter school.

Charter schools are public schools operated with tax dollars, but they operate free from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools.

Missouri's first 15 charter schools opened in Kansas City this year. None has opened in St. Louis.

A 1998 state law provided for charter schools in St. Louis and Kansas City. A 1999 amendment that became law in August adds Southeast to the list of educational institutions allowed to sponsor charter schools in St. Louis.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, said Southeast is still doing its homework when it comes to charter schools. Dickerson said Southeast officials want to know the views of state lawmakers from St. Louis. There also is the issue of whether the university has the resources and manpower to sponsor a charter school more than 100 miles from its campus.

Sponsors don't have to finance the operation of charter schools, but they have broad oversight responsibilities in terms of the schools' financial and academic operations."You have to have people to oversee and evaluate," he said.

Dickerson said the university is looking at the options should it be asked to sponsor a charter school in St. Louis."We have always considered ourselves the state's best teacher-training institution. If we can lend help to an area where it is probably needed, I don't think we would shrink from that," Dickerson said.

Charter-school proponents are expected to lay out their case at a meeting Thursday at Southeast's outreach office in downtown St. Louis. The 6 p.m. meeting initially was scheduled as one of a series of sessions designed to help the school update its strategic plan.

But since state Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, publicly urged the university to consider sponsoring charter schools, Southeast officials have been taking a hard look at the issue.

Southeast's president, Dr. Ken Dobbins, said the university is in the early stages of gathering information on the charter-school issue. Dobbins said the ultimate decision would rest with the regents.

Dickerson said the regents have an open mind to the idea. But he acknowledged that the idea faces strong opposition from some educators. The St. Louis Board of Education opposes charter schools and has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state law."I wouldn't want us to move into a totally hostile environment," he said.

Dickerson said the lawsuit must be considered. "Until the lawsuit is resolved, I don't think you will see too much activity in the city of St. Louis."Said Dickerson, "If this is a good idea and it is going to work, as much of the rancor as possible needs to be taken out of it."