North Tulsa Charter School Could Get Board Approval Tuesday

An arts-focused college-prep program could be opening in Tulsa Public Schools soon. The Tulsa School Board is set to vote Tuesday night on the North Tulsa Lighthouse charter school application.

The program wants to serve at-risk youth and is promising 125 percent growth in student test scores.

If its charter is approved, North Tulsa Lighthouse is hoping to move into an existing school site. And they've set their sights on one that's already been slated to close once before in the last year.

Some say students in north Tulsa don't have a lot of options when it comes to high-performing schools. So a group of local non-profit leaders want to create one.

"There's a strong belief that all children can learn and can achieve at the highest levels if they're given the right tools," said Annie Koppel Van Hanken of the North Tulsa Lighthouse.

Its part of a network of charters serving 5,300 students on 19 school sites in five states. It's a rigorous college prep program with a longer school day and longer school year.

And they're not just teaching reading, writing and arithmetic but also Rembrandt, Renoir, and Rodin.

"In every academic area there's an opportunity to weave art into the curriculum," Van Hanken said.

Lighthouse plans to recruit children in north Tulsa and is looking for a school in the community to call home.

"There seems to be a great match at what Lighthouse offers and what the community is seeking," Van Hanken said.

And it's listed Greeley Elementary as a possible location.

Greeley was slated to close, when Tulsa Public School consolidated. But parents protested and students took to the streets, and the school was saved.

04/12/2011 Related Story: Tulsa Public School Superintendent: Part Of Consolidation Proposals Off The Table

Now, Greeley could be closed once again and the building reinvented as North Tulsa Lighthouse, with 280 pre-K through 4th graders.

"Greeley is not a secured site for Lighthouse. I think it's an excellent opportunity to keep a school open in that community. But I think ultimately the parents need to want that to happen," Van Hanken said.

TPS has scheduled a forum Thursday night to talk the matter over with Greeley parents. Of course, the Tulsa School Board will vote on the charter Tuesday night. But it is possible for them to approve the creation of the school but not necessarily its location.

In its charter application, North Tulsa Lighthouse also mentioned Cleveland and Alcott as possible locations if Greeley was unavailable.