The San Benito County Board of Education wants to hear more
about the financial impact of a possible charter school before it
gives the green light to a project that could have substantial
monetary repercussions for public schools throughout the
county.
Hollister – The San Benito County Board of Education wants to hear more about the financial impact of a possible charter school before it gives the green light to a project that could have substantial monetary repercussions for public schools throughout the county.
The Board of Education heard a report Wednesday on the possibility of establishing a charter school in San Benito County and discussed some of the implications such a school would have on local districts.
County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley told the board that he will be meeting with parents and community members interested in establishing a charter school next week. The board also discussed the impact of a possible charter school, including finding a suitable school site and the financial implications. The board won’t discuss specifics until it determines a charter school is actually needed.
“It’s still in the exploratory phase,” Foley said. “We’re still deciding which questions to ask and which directions to explore.”
San Benito High School California Teachers Association President Chuck Schallhorn believes looking into charter schools may be premature.
“Depending on when and how many students decide to enroll, this could affect our operating budget,” he said. “If the state of education is that bad, we should fix what we have first.”
Schallhorn suggested that if some parents and community members are looking for a smaller school, they first consider adding a second public high school. He said that SBHS teachers want to provide all students with the best possible education, but wanted to know exactly what problems a charter school would solve before supporting the idea.
The decision to establish a charter school in San Benito County would be made by the County Board of Education, Foley said.
“If it comes to the board, this will be a very, very involved contract,” he said. “This is not something to consider lightly.”
A charter school is a public school that is exempt from most of the laws governing school districts, according to the California Department of Education. They have more flexibility in terms of its curriculum and staffing, and usually serve students unable to achieve in conventional school environments. Like regular public schools, they are funded by the state based on average daily attendance figures.
The possibility of having a charter school has not always been warmly welcomed, County Board member Mary Anne Filice said. Six years ago, some within the state’s education community considered charter schools uncontrollable because there was not enough oversight from state and county educational agencies. However, in the past few years charter schools have shed that reputation.
“It has become an option,” she said. “There are viable and successful charter schools coming up throughout California now and we’re just really inquisitive at this point.”
On Thursday, Foley will meet with all of the San Benito County district superintendents to discuss the possibility of and “assuage anxiety” about a charter school, he said.
A charter school could have a significant impact on other public schools in San Benito County. A high school or middle school charter could draw students – and funding – from other districts.
“The money follows the students,” Foley said.
Hollister School District officials are well aware of that issue. Assistant Superintendent Peter Gutierrez told the Hollister Board of Trustees two weeks ago that its district has lost $4 million over the last three years due to inter-district transfers. Parents do not have to fill out inter-district transfer forms or provide a reason for taking their children out a regular public school and enrolling them in a charter school. If it served middle school students, a San Benito County charter school could exacerbate problems for the cash-strapped Hollister School District. Board members declined to comment before hearing specifics about the matter.
Charter school funding issues can be complex, Gilroy Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Steve Brinkman said. MACSA El Portal Charter High School, the only charter school in that district, provides an alternative educational environment for students, but it comes at a cost.
“We are compensated at the unified school district rate (by the Department of Education), but we pay our charter school at the high school rate,” Brinkman said. “It’s a difference of about $800 per student.”
Brinkman hopes that such disparities will be resolved by a bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill was designed to simplify and fix the complex charter school funding process.
San Benito High School parent Monica Rodriguez has heard good things about charter schools from some of her friends in other counties, but suggested that the County Board look closely at what has and hasn’t worked for other charter schools before making a decision that could end up taking money from the classroom.
“It would be a great idea if it is done properly,” she said.
Charter schools are common and California is home to nearly 600 such schools, said Keith Edmonds, a charter school specialist with the California Department of Education. According to Edmonds, San Benito County is one of only 10 counties in the state that does not have a charter school.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
