SALT LAKE CITY (February 1, 2007) - In January, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. appointed Holland & Hart attorney Joel Wright to the Utah State Charter School Board.
On the Board, Mr. Wright will meet with six other members to oversee Utah's charter schools and decide which schools will receive charters each year. Mr. Wright became involved with charter schools by serving on the Advisory Board of Lincoln Academy Charter, where his son attends first grade.
Utah charter schools were created by the Legislature in 1998 with the goal of encouraging the use of innovative teaching methods, increasing choices for learning opportunities, and providing the chance for greater parental involvement in school management decisions. Eight charter schools opened in 1999, and now Utah is scheduled to have 58 charter schools by fall.
"I am humbled at the opportunity the Governor has given me to serve Utah's school children and their parents," said Mr. Wright. "I believe charter schools have tremendous potential to motivate both parents and students to obtain the best education possible. I look forward to assisting their efforts in every way I can as a member of the Charter School Board."
Mr. Wright is an associate in Holland & Hart's Real Estate practice group. He has represented private companies, lenders, and governments in connection with virtually all phase of development, financing, and acquisition of real estate, energy, and infrastructure projects. He also has experience dealing with local and state government on regulation, zoning, land-use, taxation, and public finance issues.