Recordings from the Nov. 20 special meeting, which encompassed two public hearings for the appeals by Navigator Schools and Rocketship Education on their petitions to open charter schools within the Morgan Hill Unified School District, are posted on the Santa Clara County Office of Education website and can be heard by clicking here.
The County Board of Education heard from nearly 80 members of the community, listened to MHUSD Interim Superintendent Steve Betando’s presentation as well as commentary from co-founders James Dent of Navigator Schools and Preston Smith of Rocketship Education during the six-hour proceedings.
The County Board, which has the ability to override MHUSD’s Board of Education’s decision to deny both petitions, is expected to vote on the appeals at its Jan. 15 meeting.
Meanwhile, Navigator and Rocketship submitted their Proposition 39 facilities requests to the district Nov. 1. MHUSD must work with them to find the best fit for both sides at existing facilities, if the County votes for approval.
Navigator’s Gilroy Prep School is housed in the former MACSA facility at 277 IOOF Ave., while Navigator’s Hollister Prep shares the R.O. Harden Elementary School campus at 881 Line St.
Rocketship usually builds its own school facilities. However, Morgan Hill’s City Council voted to deny Rocketship’s request for a $50 million bond issuance, part of which was expected to fund construction of a Rocketship Morgan Hill on a 1.6-acre lot near the intersection of San Pedro and Church avenues behind World Gas Station.
Both charter management companies, Navigator Schools and Rocketship Education, have plans to open up new elementary schools for the 2014-15 school year.
