Charter school petition denied again
By: AARON CLAVERIE - Staff Writer
This story has been corrected since its original posting | ∞
LAKE ELSINORE ---- For the second time in three months, the Lake Elsinore Unified School District board Thursday rejected a petition to convert Ronald Reagan Elementary School into a K-8 charter school devoted to the teaching philosophy of constructivism.
Charter school supporters, including dozens who protested the expected action by the board by not attending Thursday's special meeting, said they will take the petition to the Riverside County Board of Education.
"As soon as possible," said Edie Esquivel, a Reagan Elementary school 'room mom' who is one of the lead charter school petitioners.
Reagan Elementary was opened by the district in 2005 as a magnet school for the constructivist philosophy, which emphasizes collaboration among teachers and students and a student-driven approach to education that supports innovation.
At the start of the 2007 school year, a new principal and new teachers were installed who did not buy into the philosophy, contends Gary Hanggi, president of the charter school alliance.
Without the support of those officials, the school's collaborative model of instruction quickly "disintegrated," he said.
Hanggi told the board that the only way for the school to continue its work under the constructivist model would be to convert to a charter school.
District officials have denied attempting to undermine the teaching philosophy while defending the changes as needed.
The board rejected a previous version of the charter school petition in early November, citing numerous problems with the proposed school's finances and the ability of supporters, a group of teachers and parents, to craft a sound educational program for students.
The main flaw in the revised petition, board members said Thursday, was the finances of the charter school, which was projected to run a multimillion dollar deficit in the first two years of operation.
"I stopped at Page 9," said board president Kim Cousins, referencing a page in the resolution to deny the petition that details how the charter school would end up with a $3.1 million deficit after two years.
"This should be very alarming to anyone who would want to work for the charter," Cousins said.
Another point of contention for the district's staff and the board was the alleged lack of any major revisions to the charter that was rejected in November.
"Many of the areas of concern and findings supporting the previous denial were not addressed at all or were not addressed in a meaningful way," according to the district's staff report presented to the board.
In her presentation, the district's attorney, Davina Harden, noted that the supporters filed the revised petition one business day after the board voted to reject the previous petition. Charter supporters said much of the revision was done during the weekend.
"The revisions were not taken lightly," said Hanggi, who added that he believes the board is biased against the charter proposal.
Esquivel, in her comments to the board, blasted what she called some "ridiculous" portions of the resolution to deny, which details the staff's recommendation for denying the petition.
Esquivel referred specifically to a section of the resolution that said the petition failed to include "such matters as committing or attempting to commit a sexual battery, possession or being under the influence of a controlled substance or sexual harassment" as reasons for expulsion.
Esquivel said it was ridiculous for staff to contend the proposed administration of the charter school would allow any child to be abused sexually.
Board Trustee Jon Gray told the handful of charter school supporters who attended the meeting that he didn't think the charter would be approved by the county board.
And if the supporters take it to the state agency in charge of reviewing charter school application appeals, it likely would be rejected again, he said.
"No one is going to approve your charter if there is a $3 million deficit that someone else is going to have to pay for," Gray said.
Contact staff writer Aaron Claverie at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or e-mail aclaverie@californian.com.
CORRECTION: Edie Esquivel has volunteered as a "room mom" at Ronald Reagan Elementary School Edie Esquivel is a parent of a student.
More Stories
Advertisement
Not wrote on Jan 11, 2008 6:49 AM:Esquivel is not a teacher. She is a parent of a student at the school.
get it right wrote on Jan 11, 2008 6:54 AM:Esquivel is NOT a teacher!
Why? wrote on Jan 11, 2008 4:13 PM:Why would the state approve a charter that can't even pay their own teachers out of their regular funds without dipping into the reserve fund within the first month?
Drop it wrote on Jan 11, 2008 6:31 PM:Ms. Esquivel - it is time to drop it and let Reagan E.S. move ahead. I as a taxpayer will NOT stand by and let my tax dollars pay for your cost overruns by taking money away from the entire LEUSD budget. If you really want a charter school for your children, then you and your group need to pay your own way!
Roberto1 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 9:08 PM:"I stopped at Page 9," said board president Kim Cousins, referencing a page in the resolution to deny the petition that details how the charter school would end up with a $3.1 million deficit after two years.
REPLY: 3.1 million dollar deficit? All these school marms and a deficit for what?...... IMHO..the school district doesn't want to lose control and as for the 3.1 million dollar deficit, something doesn't add add up.
deficit wrote on Jan 12, 2008 12:53 PM:The charter group's own budget showed a deficit, running in the red, negative in reserve funds, for at least four months in the first year. They are hoping that they would be awarded grants that will make up the difference.
Where is Charter Website? wrote on Jan 16, 2008 10:08 AM:Edie - Where is LEUSD parent website today? Was the website shut down for non paymet? Was that another Ridge Community, Gauthier deficit that was not budgeted for. The 3.1 million budget shortfall is just your speed!
Typical wrote on Jan 29, 2008 1:44 PM:How typical that you don't agree with someone's stance, you immediately resort to personal attacks. FYI - the charter is not going to be "dropped"...tax dollars are not wasted on providing children the BEST learning environment possible. The school does not belong to you, it belongs to the community which has overwhelming supported the charter - by a majority - you know, the democratic process. Just because Edie is the lead parent, doesn't mean she should be attacked - there are plenty of us to come after!
To Typical wrote on Jan 29, 2008 10:02 PM:Yes I agree that there are plenty to come after. All with plenty of "skeletons in the closet." As for Edie - she got joy in attacking BOE and Passarella! Now it is the BOE and Passerella defending their position and it just happens that lead petioner Edie is not rosey white! People that live in glass houses. You know what I mean.
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Today's Stories
Advertisement