photos Patty Ecklund & Tom Smedes
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Rare Victory For Small Nevada Public School
West Wendover victory over Agassi Prep was cheered not only by local fans but from virtually every public school in the state of Nevada.
“I would say that with the exception of their own fans, almost everyone in the stadium was cheering for us,” said wolverine head coach Scott Carsrud. “These wins against Chartered private schools are getting pretty rare. I would say in the last ten years there was a private school in the final if not two.”
A little less than 10 years ago changes in the state education system enabled the creation of a public/private school hybrid dubbed the Charter School system.
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money (and like other schools, may also receive private donations) but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school’s charter. Charter schools are opened and attended by choice.[2] While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition.
State-authorized charters (schools not chartered by local school districts) are often established by nonprofit groups, universities, and some government entities. While they have been applauded in offering more school choice, private and charter schools have often been accused of poaching the best athletes from the straight public school system and unfortunately for Wendover and most of the charter/private schools are its size.
Of the ten schools in Wendover’s old 2A division, four were either charter or private schools from Las Vegas.
“They have a population of Las Vegas to recruit from,” said Carsrud. “We pretty much play with what we have.”
The unleveled playing field makes victories for small public schools like West Wendover rare and when they do happen, sweeter.
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