Former superintendent heads charter school council

Los Lunas The School of Dreams Academy charter school took a giant step toward becoming a reality when governing council members were sworn in and discussed the search for an administrator.

Meeting on Dec. 2 in the Village of Los Lunas' offices, board members Dorothy Griego, Kenneth Griego, Janice Leach, Teresa Ogas and Dr. H. Fred Pomeroy were sworn in by almost as many local judges.

District Judge Violet Otero said Dorothy Griego had been a longtime co-worker and friend who would do a marvelous job.

"This is very much needed," said Magistrate Danny Hawkes, a former member of the Los Lunas Board of Education. "And what a great bunch of people were chosen to serve."

Los Lunas Municipal Judge Jeff Aragon "commended Mr. (Michael) Ogas for having the dream."

And District Judge John Pope noted that the academy is "off to a great start."

The state approved the charter school earlier this year after a Sept. 12 public hearing, and Michael Ogas has been working along with Youth Development Inc. of Los Lunas to prepare for an opening for the 2009-10 school year.

Pomeroy, a former superintendent of the Los Lunas Schools, was elected president by the board, and Kenneth Griego, a former Belen Schools superintendent, was chosen vice president. Teresa Ogas was elected secretary.

Ogas reported that the Public Education Commission had given the final OK to the academy on Oct. 31.

"We'll operate as our own school district," Michael Ogas said. "Funds will flow directly to us and we're accountable for it."

One of the next steps will be opening a bank account and establishing employee ID numbers, he said.

The School of Dreams Academy, which will focus on the arts, is one of six newly established charter schools in the state, including the Taos Academy and an arts academy in Santa Fe.

"It's going to be a tremendous journey," he said. "We're all fired up about it."

Michael Ogas said the first priority will be advertising for and hiring a lead administrator and then "my role would go to the back."

He noted that "YDI has been the key partner in this endeavor. They told me to tell you they will provide any sort of help needed."

Pomeroy noted that "I can't believe the number of hours you spent" on the project, including a proposal that was several inches thick.

In their first votes, the governing council unanimously passed an Open Meetings resolution as required by law and set three-year staggered terms for themselves. The council will name succeeding members, and current members may succeed themselves.

They approved a policy barring conflict of interest and talked about applying for state and federal grants.

Teresa Ogas suggested the council work on setting up a Web site "to make it more accessible."

Students will be chosen for the school through a lottery.

Pomeroy asked Michael Ogas to prepare a job description for the administrator, noting that that person would hire the rest of the staff.

"As soon as people hear this is going to be a reality, you won't have any shortage" of teachers applying for jobs," Kenneth Griego said.

"We need to get the right person for the administrator. You get the right person and you will have a school of dreams."

Among the items to be discussed in the future will be the location of the facility, something Michael Ogas said would be on the council's agenda in January.