HAYDEN - Organizers of a public charter school being proposed in Hayden hope the facility will open in the fall of 2015.

The Hayden Canyon Charter School of Expeditionary Learning would be located on the east side of Government Way, north of Lancaster. As a public charter school, Hayden Canyon would be free and accessible to all students in Idaho.

The school would serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade and may gradually expand to include high school.

Cynthia Reyburn, a member of the school's founding board of directors, said the proposed charter school would fill a gap because there are no elementary charter schools in the greater Hayden area, and it would serve future growth.

"This school will be complementary to existing public and charter schools in our communities," she said, noting that Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy starts with sixth grade.

Reyburn said serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade is the minimum opening goal, but the board hopes to open it as a K-8 school.

The school site would be donated by developers of Hayden Canyon, a subdivision planned on the northeast side of Hayden. The property is in the Lakeland Joint School District, but also borders the Coeur d'Alene School District.

The Lakeland School Board decided Monday not to authorize the charter, and referred the Hayden Canyon school's organizers to seek authorization directly from the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

Reyburn, chief financial officer for the Panhandle Area Council economic development agency, said the application will be sent to the commission soon, and she hopes it will be considered within 60 days.

Tom Taggart, Lakeland's finance director, said the Lakeland board and staff didn't want to take on the responsibility and oversight of another school.

"We don't see a need for taking on the charter; it just doesn't fit with us," Taggart said. "There was no good reason to say 'yes.' We have our own programs and schools that we believe are doing a good job, and it's difficult to take away financially from the programs we're running."

Taggart said charter schools tend to be more volatile in terms of finances, so there is some risk involved if a school district takes them in.

"Some charter schools are doing great and others are closing," he said. "If you charter them, you have the responsibility to see that they work."

Taggart said another charter school, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy in Rathdrum, has decreased funding for the Lakeland School District because it has taken in students who otherwise would be attending a school within the district. Enrollment is a factor in determining the amount of state funding school districts receive.

However, Taggart said he doesn't believe Lakeland would take a large funding hit with the opening of the Hayden Canyon school. The new school would be on the fringe of the district, he said, and it would likely attract and enroll new students who move to the planned Hayden Canyon development, rather than students already living within the Lakeland School District's boundaries.

Taggart said he believes the state commission will approve the proposed charter school.

Reyburn said Lakeland's decision not to authorize the Hayden Canyon charter was not a surprise.

"They indicated no negativity, and we assumed they would," she said. "It's best for all parties."

As part of the application process to form a charter school, the local school district must be approached first to see if it's interested in bringing in the school under its umbrella.

Matt Handelman, superintendent of the Coeur d'Alene School District, said it's too soon to tell how the proposed charter school will affect his district.

"We're expecting an impact, but at this point, we can't tell how much that will be," he said.

Construction of the new school would not affect taxpayers because, as a charter, Hayden Canyon would have no taxing authority and would not be able to levy property taxes to pay for operations expenses or building needs.

Private funding will be sought.

"Grant applications will be progressing as soon as possible," Reyburn said. "We didn't feel that it is appropriate to take in private donations until the school is approved. Despite great support, we don't believe (accepting private funds now) is the responsible thing to do."

The single-story school is proposed to have 14 classrooms. Expeditionary learning, which is taught in 160 schools in 33 states, emphasizes a collaborative, project-based approach.

While the method of learning doesn't focus on a specific subject, it ties all subjects together to make them relevant to students, Reyburn said.

She said the early interest in the school has been outstanding. As part of the approval process, 50 citizens signed a petition in support of the school.

Reyburn said Hayden is a logical place for a new charter school because it's not near other charter schools and will serve future growth on the north side of the city.

"This school is not in competition with any other school," Reyburn said. "I think many parents are seeking options. A waiting list of 300-plus at the (Coeur d'Alene) charter school is a good indication of support for other opportunities."

Staff writer Maureen Dolan contributed to this report.