EDUCATION: REGENTS APPROVE SECOND CHARTER

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents granted a five-year charter Friday to a St. Louis neighborhood group to operate an elementary and middle school near the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The regents approved the Garden School application with two conditions: Any building to be used for the school must first meet with the university's approval, and the Garden School Board of Directors must provide Southeast and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education a plan for repaying debt.

The conditions were recommended by a seven-member university review committee, headed by former Sikeston, Mo., superintendent Robert Buchanan. The committee included two former superintendents and two current school superintendents.

The board of directors of the Garden School asked for a 10-year charter, but the committee recommended a five-year term.

Kay Mantia of St. Louis is president of the board of directors of the Garden School. She didn't attend the meeting.

Reached later at her home, Mantia welcomed the news.

"We are very excited that it finally has been approved and all that work is behind us," she said.

Mantia said the Garden School board's next step is to find a building to lease.

This was the second charter school application made to Southeast this year, and the second to be approved.

But the regents said they likely won't approve any more charter schools in the immediate future.

"We would like to see these up and running first," said Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents.

The review committee said time and personnel would restrict the university's supervision of any additional charter schools.

"Very simply put, we are the superintendent of schools for those two schools," Buchanan said.

Under state law, the university, as sponsor, won't be responsible for day-to-day operations.

But Southeast officials said supervisory duties will rest with the university and the review committee.

Under Missouri law, the performance and operation of each charter school must be reviewed at least once every two years.

Dickerson said the jury is still out on how well charter schools will perform. "We don't know how well they will educate or operate," he said.

But Regent Kim Mothershead said charter schools have built-in accountability. Their charters can be revoked if they don't perform well, she said.

"I think this is a wonderful opportunity," said Mothershead.

Dickerson and Mothershead attended the special meeting in person. The other regents attended via telephone. The meeting was held at the University Center Ballroom.

Buchanan praised the proposed school. "I think it will be a very strong charter school," he said.

The Garden School plans to serve students in four St. Louis neighborhoods surrounding the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Plans call for opening the school next fall with 150 students in kindergarten, first, second, third and sixth grades.

Charter schools are public schools that operate independ-ently of established school districts or school boards.

State law only allows charter schools in Kansas City and St. Louis school districts.