Pub. 2 2012-2013 Issue 2

5 board Message 15 Years of Music The other day I picked up the trombone, I haven’t played this instrument in over 15 years. I still remember the position of the notes but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t produce one sustained note. My lips were not able to maintain the consistent flow of air needed for each note. In 1998, the Utah Legislature passed the Utah Charter School Act, which authorized the creation of charter schools as a new variety of public schools. Charter schools have many of the same requirements and duties as traditional public schools. One similar requirement includes monitoring the schools for compliance with all Federal and State laws, rules and regulations. This year, Fall of 2013, is the 15th anniversary of the passage of the act. There are currently 88 charter schools from St George to Logan, with 14 more schools opening within the next 2 years. There are 56,000 Utah Students projected to attend charter schools in 2013 with over 40,000 on waiting lists. Last year alone charter schools grew by 13%. Thank you to those few original leaders or conductors if you will, who directed the charter school movement 15 years ago and who currently still lead and maintain the consistent flow of energy and innovation needed to educate Utah’s children. Thank you to the Legislators 15 years ago who believed in Utah’s students enough to offer them another educational choice. Thank you to our current Legislators who listen to those “sustained notes” of success and who continue to commit to Utah’s education. As we move through the next 15 years, each of us has a responsibility to ensure the vision created in 1998 is strengthened so that we give Utah’s children the “position” and consistency they need to be successful. Gerry Hassell, Board Chair Gerry Hassell is the Vice-President Treasury Management Consultant for AmericanWest Bank. Gerry was raised in Colorado and attended Brigham Young University where he met his wife Natalie. He graduated from BYU in 1993 in Business Management with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior. Upon graduating he accepted a management position withWal-Mart. In 2002 he was offered a Salt Lake City position, Director of Pharmacy Operations. He was responsible for 32 facilities and 400 employees. In seven years he was twice ranked in the top five in overall performance. Gerry started a small business consulting company called, ‘Hassle’ Free Consulting in 2009 and joined Zions Bank in 2010. Utah Association of Public Charter Schools Board of Directors: Gerry Hassell (Board Chair) Sonia Woodbury (Vice Chair) Lincoln Fillmore (Treasurer) Debby Llewelyn (Secretary) Jessie Kidd Brad Nelson Stacey Hutchings STAFF CONTACT INFO: Chris Bleak CEO 801-680-8141 chrisrbleak@utahcharters.org Tina Smith Director of Operations 801-558-7256 tina@utahcharters.org Whitney Neumann Director of Communications 703-994-8456 whitney@utahcharters.org Twitter: @utahcharters Facebook: Facebook.com/UAPCS www.utahcharters.org