Charter school supporters appeal for district support
By Neil Nisperos
Staff Writer
CHINO -- Dozens of aqua-shirted parents, who are in support of creating a new charter school in the Chino Valley, made their case at the school district for board members to support the idea.
Reasons for the departure and creation of a new school, called the Oxford Preparatory Academy, ranged from concerns over the district's shrinking budget, and the need for more school community autonomy over program decision-making, to the desire to keep effective teachers who have recently been laid off as part of budget cuts.
Parents also said they wanted to continue familiar programs for students after the 6th grade.
The supporters, which includes a group of about 50 parents and teachers from Rhodes Elementary, submitted their petition to the Chino Valley Unified School District two weeks ago. The district is expected to return its response by June 18. If the school board decides to reject authorization of the charter school, organizers will appeal to the county for support.
Organizers said they hope to open a premiere K-8 school and anticipate open enrollment for about 500 students. Locations are currently being scouted in the Chino Valley, including a location on Fairfield Ranch Road, said supporter and Rhodes parent Carrie Birchler. The school, Birchler said, would be open to all.
Birchler, who is helping coordinate the effort to open the new school, noted the recent budget issues facing the district in her address to the school board in her address to the school board on Monday.
"Charter education can be an extremely efficient tool for local management of resources and improving the rigor and performance of academic programs," Birchler said. "Our charter petition is truly a grassroots community effort, supported by an emerging trend in both high level political and corporate support as America's public education system clearly needs a departure from broken systems and should embrace new systems. We owe our children a better way."
The loss of students from the district to the charter school could mean the possible loss of daily attendance money for the Chino Valley Unified School District in a time when the district is possibly facing more budget cuts.
Calta said the issue is a concern, "especially in these economic times," though he said the board won't know what the net loss would be until staff does an analysis.
"You do lose (daily attendance) ADA money, but you also lose expenses associated with it," Calta said. "At end of the day I still don't know what the net loss would be."
Board president Sylvia Orozco said the loss of state attendance money is a concern, but "at the same token it's not something we're going to focus on and make it the rush now as to why to deny something like that."
Rhodes also has the top API scores in the district and the County, and district officials have expressed concern over the loss of bright top scoring students to the new school, which could impact test scoring and school accountability standings.
Oxford Preparatory Academy will have a first come, first serve enrollment policy, according to its charter. Some school board members voiced concern that policy would facilitate recruitment of high achieving students from district schools, and that public lottery would be better.
"What ends up happening is that when you recruit, you find go out and find the highest performing students and help get application set up ahead of time and the bell rings you already have an enrollment of 500 students, instead of taking applications randomly, and choosing specific students to be first in line," Calta said. "A public lottery would be the fair approach to enrollment. Everybody would have a fair chance."
neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 485-9456
In response to CVUSD board member concerns “that policy would facilitate recruitment of high achieving students from district schools, and that public lottery would be better.” OPA wishes to issue a few points of clarity to address these concerns:
1- As many charter schools do, OPA will have an open enrollment period. This system, the current practice of District schools, allows for ANY student to enroll based on the time they enroll and space available. OPA will accept applications for any student residing in California. If the number of students who wish to attend exceeds the school capacity then enrollment is determined by a public random drawing. The process is clearly outlined so that all interested parties are fully aware of the guidelines, time lines, and manner in which students are enrolled. Our open enrollment period will be publicized so that it IS a fair manner in which to carry out this process.
2- One of the great things about a charter is that the staff, parents, and students share a similar belief in educational philosophy. That is also the purpose of the "Learning Partnership Agreement". For student academic success to occur, there MUST be a partnership between families and schools. Those most interested in our philosophy will jump at the chance to be part of this new adventure in the Chino Valley and they should be rewarded for their enthusiasm. The bottom line is that through education code guidelines, our charter has the autonomy to structure the enrollment policy as we deem best for our community.
I strongly support this charter school idea! Please email me with anything I can do to help!
To Whom It May Concern,
I'm a mother of a 5th grader and a 2nd grader. I highly agree with this new teaching method! I will be registering my kids to this school Lord willing it goes through. Please if possible email me with anything I can do to help support this new charter school idea.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rumenapp
To All Interested Parties,
A petition has been submitted to CVUSD to open Oxford Preparatory Academy for the 2010-11 academic year. A public hearing will be held before the CVUSD Board of Education Thursday November 5, 2009 at 7 PM. Please come show your support for this charter school option.
For more information about OPA please contact us:
- website: www.oxfordchampions.com
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oxford-Preparatory-Academy/78594868157?ref=share
- Email: OxfordChampions@Gmail.com
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/opachampions
The email listed is incorrect. Please use opachampions@gmail.com. You can also go to our website at www.oxfordchampions.com.
Thank You!
pls. let us know the next meeting,so we can enroll our son ASAP,coz' we got loss the last time we went...that was Saturday I think... thank you....
The lottery that was held for the new Charter school was a joke. They are having 4 kindergarten classes 4 1st grade classes and 3 2nd and 7th grade classes..leaving the other grades with only 2 classes each. They then did a drawing to choose the order of the drawing for the classes.. Causing the grades with the largest amount of classes to be drawn first. By the time 1st grade was finished with their drawing, one of the 3rd grade classes was already full .. with siblings of first graders.. by the time 2nd grade was finished the second and final class of 3rd grade was 6 shy of being full..all with siblings.. What about the kid going into 3rd grade that doesnt have siblings..are they to be forgotten and not given an honest shot of getting in.. It was simply awful..and it was a sham of a lottery process..that in reality could have been prevented by maybe simply just allowing the grades that had only 2 classes be drawn first ..or how about dont take 1695 applicants when you know you only have 795 spots open ... Oh no lets just have 900 kids on a waiting list.... my goodness!!
I agree, I have an only child who would be going into the 2nd grade. I signed very early on believing this was originally, a first come first serve basis. I filled out the intent to enroll, and then officially enrolled as soon as notified to do so, attended meetings, fundraisers, wrote a letter of support, received e-mails, etc,etc,etc...MONTHS AND MONTHS ago...well sitting through the lottery I really felt it was all for nothing, months of anticipation and support~ as it became clear that my son literally had little chance as I watched the board spots get taken up right before my eyes ~as the caller would sound "sibling, sibling, sibling, "! Thus most spots of which were taken before they even got to the 2nd grade drawing...it really would have been like winning the lottery.
While I do believe this was the only fair way it could have been handled, (I sat from 9 Am until almost 3PM)...you make a valid point in having 900 kids on a waiting list, and why take in "1695 applicants when you know you only have 795 spots open" ...however that number is power, it was a major accomplishment for the founders thus that number is a bargaining tool for future endeavors for the founders, petitioners and agendas....a point was proved. In my own personal opinion, surely breaking a record for most support at the notion of a new school such as this one opening as reflected by those numbers, will only call attention to the matter and for this to be addressed.