Pub. 6 2016-2017 Issue 1

3 ©2016 Utah Association of Public Charter Schools | The newsLINK Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Charterology is published two times each year by The newsLINK Group, LLC. for the Utah Associa- tion of Public Charter Schools and is the official publication for this association. The information con- tained in this publication is intend- ed to provide general information for review and consideration. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal ad- vice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your specific cir- cumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publica- tion are those of the individual au- thors and do not necessarily repre- sent the views of Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, its board of directors, or the publisher. Like- wise, the appearance of advertise- ments within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Charterology is a collective work and consequently some articles are submitted by authors that are independent of the Utah Asso- ciation of Public Charter Schools. While Charterology encourages a first print policy, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further informa- tion, please contact the publisher at: 855.747.4003. contents 4 Welcome 5 Board Chair Message BY DR. DEBORAH L. SWENSEN 6 Meet Our Team 8 The Promise of Charter Schools BY ROYCE VAN TASSELL 10 How to Talk with Data: Seven Questions to Ask While Using Data to Make Better Educational Decisions BY RICHARD P. WEST 14 Are Your Benefits, A Benefit? BY VERAPATH GLOBAL INVESTING, LLC 16 Standing Out from the Rest – Why It’s Crucial to Offer an Attractive AND Comprehensive Employee Benefits Package BY RYAN BINGHAM, SPECTRA MANAGEMENT 18 The Necessity of Transparency BY JOHN DOUGALL 20 Boards and Directors Empower Each Other BY DANIELA ALVAREZ M.P.A., CAO & LYNNE HERRING M.ED ., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FREEDOM PREP 22 A New Chapter for the State Charter School Board BY KRISTIN ELINKOWSKI 24 Public Education: Essential Infrastructure for a Strong Future BY SYDNEE DICKSON 26 One Legislator’s Perspective BY REPRESENTATIVE BRAD LAST