March 2008 Archives

While budget concerns remain the top priority of the many school districts, charter schools facilities requests will be on tap at Tuesday's PUSD board meeting.

Four facilities requests will be discussed, but Rhythms of the Village is the only charter to come a with negative recommendation. If the board rejects the proposal - 15,000 sq. feet of space at Edison - the charter may not have a home to come back to.

The charter's financial difficulty - sparked by low enrollment - continues to hamper its growth. Last month, the district sent a second letter to the school, informing them of their concerns over enrollment and instructional methods. Apparently, on a few school visits, PUSD officials observed students "putting their heads on their desks."

I'm told to expect a pretty large group of the school's supporters at the meeting. District officials say they don't want to punish the school and Esteban Lizardo, board president, even said the school's focus on the arts offers students a different curriculum and should be supported.