Mark Hinkley, a school board member since 1998, will be principal of the new school. Hinkley resigned in June to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The Lakeside board voted 4-0 to conditionally approve the new charter school at its July 10 meeting. Final approval depends on the district finding the charter school's proposed budget fiscally sound by today, officials said.

The board also appointed Gelia Cook, a former trustee, to fill the remaining four months of Hinkley's term.

Charter schools are self-governed public schools that can set their own curriculum and receive funding directly from the state. Charter schools must participate in annual state testing and perform well to continue their status. Lakeside sponsors four other charter schools.

Hinkley, 52, is a parent, lawyer, artist and festival producer. He will lead the Xara Garden School, which is scheduled to open in September 2009. Xara means joy in Greek.

“It's the name of the best possible, imaginable future,” he said.

The school plans to enroll 80 kindergarten, first-and second-grade students during its first year. Students will learn about the humanities, engineering, arts, research and technology while working on projects that look into the future, Hinkley said.

“We are going to have gardens and greenhouses,” he said, noting the school's emphasis on the environment.

Students will present projects at learning fairs and family festivals, Hinkley said.

Spanish, yoga, piano, and etiquette also will be part of the instruction.

Hinkley expects to eventually open three more schools, one for third-to-fifth-grade students, a middle school and a high school. He is executive director of Xara Learning Village, the nonprofit corporation that will run the schools.

The Xara K-2 school opening next year may initially share space with another charter school, Eastern County Preparatory Academy, which the Lakeside board also approved this year. Eastern County Prep is looking for a site in the Lakeside area.

Hinkley credits his time on the board and his arts background as influences that led him to start the charter school.

Hinkley is the former San Diego region representative for Burning Man, the annual arts and entertainment festival in the Nevada desert, and he also organized an arts festival in Dulzura. During his years on the board, he championed the arts and helped found an annual fun run that supports art programs in the K-8 Lakeside district.

For more information about Xara Garden School, contact Hinkley at (619) 443-5459 or at mark-hinkley@cox.net.

Leonel Sanchez: (619) 542-4568; leonel.sanchez@uniontrib.com