Pub. 14 2024-2025 Issue 1

Aspiring Charter Executive Seminar (ACES) This series prepares future charter school leaders with crucial skills in educational leadership, financial management, governance, community engagement and legal compliance. Participants will receive practical insights to excel as charter school executives through eight Zoom sessions. Executive Seminar Board Member Training Series Designed for charter school board members, this series […]

Charter school boards in Utah operate within a framework of laws designed to ensure transparency and accountability in decision-making. One such framework is the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act (OPMA), which mandates that the public has access to the workings of governmental bodies, including charter school boards. Compliance with this law not only builds trust with stakeholders, but also avoids legal pitfalls. Recent amendments and evolving practices in virtual meetings, use of digital tools and meeting notifications make it essential for charter boards to stay updated. This article explores the essentials of OPMA and the practical steps for charter schools to comply with a focus on new updates.

At Promontory School of Expeditionary Learning in Perry, Utah, we believe in creating memorable and meaningful experiences for our students and families. This year’s Back to School Night was no exception. With excitement in the air, we kicked off the new school year by transforming a traditional back-to-school night into a lively and interactive event that engaged everyone in our community.

Education is a journey of discovery that begins with curiosity, opportunity and the guidance of mentors. Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy (Maeser Prep) offers a holistic education that can help students develop leadership skills, discover their interests and foster meaningful relationships. For Abriel Rosenvall and Sam Garrison, two alumni of Maeser Prep, this journey also led them to a lifelong partnership.

In the fall of 2000, my wife, Michelle, came to me, bursting with excitement about a school she had heard about up at the Sundance ski resort. It was a small one-room elementary school with only about 40 students. She had plans to visit the next day, and when she came back that evening, she was even more thrilled. The school was free to attend and was a charter school. At the time, I had heard of charter schools but didn’t know much about them. However, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment when she learned there was a waiting list with hundreds of children, meaning our kids had almost no chance of attending.