A dependent charter school that focuses on teaching students
English language acquisition could open at the vacant Burnett
Elementary campus as soon as fall 2011.
A dependent charter school that focuses on teaching students English language acquisition could open at the vacant Burnett Elementary campus as soon as fall 2011.
Superintendent Dr. Wes Smith updated the school board at its meeting Tuesday night since first presenting the plan in March. He said while more research needs to be done, the district is actively looking to apply for grants to fund the school.
He said he and his staff will visit similar charter schools in the next eight weeks. “By July, we start writing this, around September we have a charter written, researched,” Smith said. The earlier they can get in line for funding, with all the pieces in place – it’s “key to make this really successful.”
“There is money for charters, for us not to explore that is criminal of us really, because we have these looming gaps of future possibilities of deficits facing us,” said Kathy Sullivan, Morgan Hill Unified board trustee. “I don’t want this to just be an idea we talk about and just leave it on the table. Let’s do this as quickly and prudently as possible.”
A few at the meeting cried foul to the suggestion of a school that in practicality would be attended specifically by Latino children, although attendance would be voluntary and no child would be “placed” in the school.
Armando Benavides, a member of the Coalition for Latino Education Achievement Defense, was not convinced that the charter would be anything less than segregation. Benavides even made the parallel to Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that declared schools could not separate children based on race. Before the Civil Rights’ victory, black and white children attended segregated public schools.
“Are the benefits of segregating (English language learners) outweighing a school that focuses on them at that school? There, they learn ethnic tolerance, cultural differences – a charter neutralizes those benefits,” he said.
Benavides said CoLEAD hopes the district has given thought to the legal consequences of implementing such a proposal of a school that, he said, will most certainly segregate Latino children.
“There certainly are some concerns from community groups that want some questions answered,” Smith said. “The idea is more well-received than not.” He said the district will continue to investigate successful models before writing a plan.
Board President Bart Fisher said because the charter is open to all students, it could not be described as “segregation.” Trustee Mike Hickey and Smith recalled charter schools in the Sacramento area that served the Hmong population and another that immersed students in Russian.
Last month, the Sacramento City Unified School District trustees voted to approved the Yav Pem Suab Academy, that will recruit all students as required by law, but will focus on Hmong culture and language, according to the Sacramento Bee. Hmong students in that district scored lowest on the English language arts section of the standardized tests in 2008 and 2009 – similar to English learning students which are mostly Hispanic students that score below proficient in MHUSD.
“I don’t care whether it’s intended or not,” Trustee Julia Hover-Smoot said. She was clearly distressed about the charter idea. “The practical affect will be to segregate. You’re not going to have any diversity … you’re not going to tell me not to use this word,” Hover-Smoot said. “I do think it’s segregation. I’m for a charter if it serves all students.”
Hover-Smoot, who is a practicing attorney, was also concerned with the amount of money that will be spent on a legal opinion for the charter school. Smith said he’s planning to not spend $50,000, as Hover-Smoot suggested it might cost, on counsel to ensure the charter meets lawful standards. Smith said he would spend much less than $50,000.
Theresa Sage, the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers president, urged the school board to consider taking more time before making a decision. Sage is also a teacher at Ann Sobrato High School and drew on the experience of opening that school as proof that the district needs to be thorough in its planning.
Hickey wanted to give Smith’s idea a chance.
“We’ve recognized an issue. I think we owe the professionals the opportunity to develop that ‘how.’ That’s what we hired the superintendent to do, is to develop the ‘how'” of making a dependent charter feasible, he said.
The district will strive to stockpile as much community input as possible before pursuing a plan that the board will have to approve before the charter could open. The next school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 11, in the district board room at 15600 Concord Circle.
