GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE CHARTER SCHOOL APPROVED.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO

Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- High school district trustees narrowly approved operational guidelines for an online charter school amid controversy over the school's connection to another charter school operator who hired the superintendent as a consultant.

As in a previous vote May 23 favoring the charter petition, Antelope Valley Union High School District trustees voted 3-2 Wednesday to approve memorandums of understanding with the Los Angeles County Online Charter School.

Trustees Ira Simonds and Donita Winn were again in the minority. Simonds said he felt uncomfortable with the memos' vague language about curriculum and the senior project graduation requirement.

"I didn't feel there were enough answers in them. They said the curriculum wasn't outlined, that it would come in a later agreement," Simonds said. "I couldn't vote for an MOU with, 'We'll define our curriculum later."'

Simonds also said the district's attorney informed the board that the district won't have a say as to what sort of senior projects would be required, leading him to fear that it won't be as rigorous.

Board President Tom Pigott, who voted along with trustees Al Beattie and Jim Lott to approve the online charter school, said the memos by their very nature wouldn't have the fine details.

"The details need to be worked out by staff. This isn't something the board should be involved in, determining what each senior needs to do for a senior project," Pigott said.

At Wednesday's meeting, Superintendent David Vierra said he was no longer doing consulting work for Dante Simi, who operates Desert Sands Charter School, another district charter school with campuses in Palmdale and Lancaster.

Vierra said he and his brother, Assistant Superintendent Mike Vierra, formed a consulting business and beginning in July 2006 assisted three charter high schools in the Ventura County and Fresno areas that are affiliated with Simi. The contracts expired in June and were not renewed.

"My contractual relationships were disclosed to the board ..., reviewed by legal counsel, and found to be within appropriate legal standards," Vierra said.

Board members said they didn't see the Vierra brothers' work, which was done off the clock, as a conflict because it was outside the district's jurisdiction.

"It had nothing to do with our district," Pigott said.

"Everything was legal. We also felt, 'Do you really have a right to tell someone what to do on their off-time?'" Simonds said.

Simi, who did not respond to requests for comment, did consulting work for the online charter school and will continue to be used on an as-needed basis, said Brian Rose, vice president of school development with Insight Schools, which has a contract with the firm that holds the charter license to help operate the school.

Rose said the online school worked with Simi and other staff from Desert Sands. He declined to say what fees were paid.

"They helped us with understanding charter school policies and rules in the state and to help us make introductions throughout the state and in the district," Rose said.

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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