A Group Commitment Charter schools provide an opportunity for individuals to come together and develop breaking the mold schools which can better serve a market niche in a community. Kenosha Unified School District has a wonderful opportunity to assist in the development of two new charter school ventures.
Charter schools have an increased chance of success if they are supported and guided by a sponsor.
In Wisconsin, with exception of Milwaukee, only the Board of Education is allowed to sponsor a charter school. Our sponsorship should come with proactive support from school district staff of the individuals attempting to develop their unique charter opportunities for children. That support should include development of an asbestos management plan, development of an ADA audit of the proposed facility or facilities, conducting radon gas testing requirements, providing liability insurance, conducting lead in the water testing and implementation of compliance measures, development of accounting and payroll support systems, conducting annual audits, providing support and advice on compliance with Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction rules and regulations, development of a plan to meet the needs of special education students who may attend the school, and sharing in staff development opportunities, to name only a few items. The planning team for a fledgling charter school should not be expected to address any one of these issues on their own. As the sponsor, we need to ensure that all these extraneous issues are addressed by the school district's staff.