The Local Innovation School Act allows schools and districts flexibility from laws and policies “that impede local autonomy,” according to the bill. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter signed it March 31, and the new law goes into effect July 1.
It would allow Syringa to have more control over its curriculum, policies and operations. But the school wants to become part of the Blaine County School District to get more funding.
“It allows for us to get equal funding but maintain our own governance,” said Greg Bloomfield, board chairman for Syringa Mountain School. The school announced its plans Monday to pursue innovation school status.
Each year — from 2016 through 2021 — up to 10 Idaho public schools can be innovation schools, for a total of 50. Syringa hopes to be included in the first round of schools, Bloomfield said.
Schools will enter into three-year agreements that can be renewed. Idaho Board of Education spokesman Blake Youde said he’s heard of two or three schools — including Syringa — that are interested.
North Valley Academy in Gooding doesn’t plan to apply, school founder Deby Infanger said. Officials from Xavier Charter School in Twin Falls, Heritage Academy in Jerome and the Twin Falls School District didn’t have information late Wednesday afternoon about whether they’d participate.
Innovation schools will still be required to participate in standardized testing. And they must follow laws related to safety, accreditation and prohibiting discrimination.
Syringa Mountain School — which opened in 2014 — has about 130 students in kindergarten through sixth grades.
The public Waldorf school has a nature-oriented approach that de-emphasizes technology, with the goal of developing students’ imagination. Children learn through methods such as storytelling, puppetry, songs, poetry, movement and hands-on projects.
If a charter school wants to become an innovation school, it must come up with a written agreement with its charter authorizer.
For Syringa, that’s the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.
But the school wants to switch to becoming overseen by the Blaine County School District.
“We feel that this is a win-win for both Blaine County School District and Syringa,” Bloomfield said, adding it ensures an equitable and fair education for students. “In my mind, it will further their cause of being a leading school district in the state of Idaho.”
Under the legislation, innovation schools are considered part of their school district — not a separate agency.
Heather Crocker, spokeswoman for the Blaine County district, didn’t have details Wednesday about Syringa Mountain School’s plans. But she provided a letter sent by Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes to Syringa in June 2015 asking for records about the charter school’s academics, operations and finances.
In the letter, Holmes writes Syringa requested a conversation about “charting a new course in the district/charter/magnet school relations.”
One reason Syringa wants to join forces with the school district: access to more funding. “What we’re looking for is money,” Bloomfield said.
If an agreement is approved, it would allow Syringa to receive the same amount of money per student as the Blaine County School District.
“We’re operating on a very skinny budget,” Bloomfield said. About 35 percent of Syringa’s budget is raised through philanthropy.
All Idaho school districts used to receive part of their money from local property tax revenue. But in 2006, state legislators changed the system to state income and sales taxes instead.
However, four resort-area districts — including Blaine County — collected more in property tax revenue than what they’d receive under the revised state system. As a result, they were exempted and a budget stabilization levy was created without voter approval.
The Blaine County district continues to receive property tax revenues based on 2006 valuations.
There are still details to work out with the new Local Innovation School Act. The Idaho Board of Education needs to figure out how to acknowledge receiving school agreements, Youde said.
Once a school has an agreement, it has 30 days to notify the state board. Then, the Idaho Department of Education will distribute $10,000 to that school for planning.
©2016 The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
