Five of seven trustees bucked Morgan Hill Unified School District staff’s recommendation and instead banked on the long-term sustainability of the Charter School of Morgan Hill at its current location in a show of support May 16.
Trustees Gino Borgioli, David Gerard, Teresa Murillo, Tom Arnett and Mary Patterson voted in favor of allowing the local charter school to submit an application for nearly $6 million state rehabilitation funds through its Office of Public School Construction made available by the passing of Proposition 51 in November.
“This school supports a very healthy learning environment in our community. We will be improving the school and our community by going forward with this,” said Borgioli, who noted charter as being one of the highest performing schools in the district. “Nothing tells me in any way, shape or fashion that they are going to leave this site.”
Board President Donna Ruebusch and Vice President Ron Woolf backed the district’s stance that the risk was too steep if CSMH somehow closed or moved locations before the loan portion of the potential transaction was paid off.
If CSMH gains the state funds, it will have to put up an equal amount of money to complete the project—likely through a loan, according to school staff.
“I guess I’m going to play devil’s advocate here,” said Woolf who followed Borgioli in the discussion. “I really have more questions than answers….I do have concerns about what if charter (abandons the site).”
Ruebusch described the issue as “an extremely difficult situation,” but leaned on the district staff’s expertise. She noted the district’s coveted triple A bond rating (which could be impacted by the loan) and the board’s support of CSMH in other ways such as through Measure G, which issued $5 million for the new multipurpose room.
“We lose complete control of the facilities and the land in a time of scarce land and facilities for this district,” Ruebusch added. “I’m not able to support this at this time.”
With the board’s approval—something that was mandatory in the state’s application process since the board is the charter authorizers—CSMH officials intend to apply for funding for an $11,577,416 project that includes modernization of four restrooms and nine permanent classrooms as well as modernization or replacement of 11 portable classrooms, according to the May 16 agenda. As part of that deal, CSMH officials are seeking a 50 percent match from the state at $5,788,708, with the additional funds coming via a loan from the California School Finance Authority, according to district staff.
“I truly thought that the district staff would have viewed this as a win-win for all parties,” said CSMH Executive Director Paige Cisewski as she addressed the school board May 16. “It’s astounding to me how much time, effort and money has been wasted trying to derail our efforts to contribute to the improvement of the learning environment at our site.”
Strings attached to funds?
Superintendent Steve Betando followed up his staff’s recommendation, summarized by Assistant Superintendent Kirsten Perez, with his own comments about Prop 51, which designated half a billion in funds for charter schools statewide. He met with CSMH President Brian Sullivan and urged him to look into it after the election. However, Betando and staff later did a closer examination of the measure that realized unfavorable stipulations.
“I was disappointed to see that (legislators) manipulated it to create obligations for districts that were unreasonable financial obligations,” said Betando, also calling it “dicey” as to “whether or not the district can get the land back if we need it to use for a school” after the construction is done, and if for some reason CSMH leaves the property.
District staff was also worried about how the proposed routes for the High Speed Rail could impact the CSMH campus, but charter leaders said they would not make any plans until the HSR routes were finalized.
There were some tense moments at the May 16 school board meeting, highlighted by Arnett’s near departure from the boardroom prior to the board’s vote. The item was moved up to the first order of general business because Arnett needed to catch a flight out of state, he said.
Arnett was all packed up and had one foot out the door when charter supporters in the audience loudly pleaded for him to stay until there was a vote. At the same time, Ruebusch was trying to piece together a lengthy motion on the issue that eventually died without a second. Audience members shouted that she was trying to stall the vote so Arnett would not get the chance to take part in it.
Arnett obliged and, with Gerard’s motion and Borgioli’s second to support charter in their efforts to acquire state rehabilitation funds, the board approved that action 5-2. A loud applause erupted from charter supporters who just as quickly vacated the boardroom following the vote as Arnett did to catch his flight.
“If we are looking at improving education for the community as a whole, this is really a win,” said Arnett, revealing his support of CSMH’s request prior to the board’s vote.
It is now the CSMH’s responsibility to submit the state application with no guarantee that the school will receive any or all of the funds requested to rehabilitate the debilitated campus and former Encinal School site that they lease from MHUSD.
CSMH in need of repairs
CSMH, located at 9350 Monterey Road in the northern outskirts of Morgan Hill, recently received a five-year renewal from MHUSD as well as $5 million in Measure G funds to build its newly constructed multi-purpose facility. However, charter leaders have constantly pointed to the poor state of the student restrooms, portable classrooms and staff areas. Gerard confirmed the inadequate conditions during a campus tour of CSMH, he added.
“We are one of your schools. We are one of your assets,” Cisewski continued. “We want to continue to cultivate and build a partnership of mutual respect between Charter School of Morgan Hill and Morgan Hill Unified.”
Cisewski and CSMH Board President Brian Sullivan remained in the audience following the vote since there was another board action involving their charter. The board voted 5-0 (with Arnett gone and Patterson abstained) to approve a Memorandum of Understanding for 2017-18 in accordance with Proposition 39, which mandates allocation of facilities to charter schools by the district. In that agreement, the district receives a 3 percent oversight fee for providing “rent-free” facilities that adds up to about $130,000 annually.
After the meeting, Cisewski said: “It is refreshing to work with a board that supports the best interest of all public schools.”
