VISTA: Eagles Peak families cope with uncertainty
Some parents waiting to sign up for charter school
By STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer | ∞
VISTA ---- As Eagles Peak Charter School officials deal with changes to the school's leadership and the threat of losing its charter, parents must cope with the uncertainty of whether the school will be around this fall.
Oceanside resident Kathy Shirley, whose four kids attend Eagles Peak, said last week she is looking at other options for the new school year.
Though Shirley said she loves the charter school and doesn't want to leave it, she said will have no choice if the Julian Union High School District board decides to revoke the school's charter. Without a charter, the school cannot operate.
The Julian district holds the charter, though Eagle's Peak serves roughly 2,000 students in San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. The school operates learning centers in Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Temecula, among other places.
Over the last couple of months, the Julian board has threatened to sever ties with the school unless administrators are able to prove that they have addressed a list of concerns, most involving the program's budget and finances.
This month, the board voted to hold off on a decision about whether to move forward with the revocation process, asking school and district officials to try to work together to resolve a few remaining problems.
The Julian board plans to revisit the issue at a special meeting within the next couple of weeks.
Rufino Diaz, a member of the Eagles Peak board of directors, said he is confident the school has met all of the district's requests, but said "there's still a cloud hanging over" the school.
"It's definitely having an effect on parents' decisions," he said about the situation. "Obviously, parents are reluctant to commit when they don't know what's going to happen."
Backup plans
Looking at other programs simply makes sense, said Sarah Moore, a Lake Elsinore resident who has two students enrolled in Eagles Peak's home-school program in Temecula.
"All the moms are exploring other options," she said. "We have to have backup plans."
So far, the school has signed up fewer than 1,600 students this year, down from roughly 2,000 last year. Still, school officials have said they're confident that they will be able to boost enrollment by the time school starts in September.
The school will be ready to open, no matter what the Julian board decides, Diaz said.
"We do have every expectation that we're going to be opening up and are proceeding accordingly," he said.
Eagles Peak officials have said they will fight the decision if the Julian board decides to revoke the charter.
Shirley, an Oceanside resident, said she isn't too worried about Eagles Peak closing, but has still been looking at other charter schools in the area.
A charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently from its chartering district and outside of many of the rules typical schools face. Chartering districts are responsible for keeping an eye on them to ensure that they're financially and academically successful.
Programs
Eagle's Peak offers a variety of programs, all aimed at parents who either home school their children or want more direct involvement in their education.
Shirley said she doesn't want to send her children to a typical public school because she likes the flexibility that Eagles Peak allows and the fact that she can spend more time with her children.
Her sixth-grade daughter, Mikayla, agreed.
"I really like it, because I actually can be with my friends, and I can be with my mom more often," she said.
About half of the students are schooled at home. Though their parents are their primary teachers, they get materials from the school and help from educational specialists to put together their lessons.
The specialist "just makes sure that I'm on track and that the kids are on track," said Shirley, whose children learn mostly at home, taking a few elective classes at the Vista learning center each week. "She's there to be a support to me."
The other half of the students go to one of the school's roughly 20 learning centers at least a couple of days a week as part of several programs that emphasize different learning environments. One program focuses on bilingual education, another on the arts.
There are two high school programs, one geared toward students looking to get a job straight out of high school and the other a blend of on-site learning and independent study.
More information about the programs is available at the school's Web site, www.eaglespeak.org.
Leadership changes
More than a year ago, Eagles Peak split into two separate organizations amid allegations of financial mismanagement, nepotism and conflicts of interest. The split was the result of increasing tensions between the school's board of directors and its administrators, many of whom moved over to the newly formed River Springs Charter School during the split.
River Springs now serves Riverside and San Bernardino counties, while Eagles Peak has students in San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties.
The upheaval subsided, but new concerns arose in May when Eagles Peak's latest executive director was fired by the board of directors after less than a year on the job, district officials said.
Earlier this month, the school's interim executive director, Art Townley, dismissed the three remaining top administrators, saying it was a cost-cutting move.
The turmoil over the last year or two hasn't affected the students' learning at all, Shirley said.
"My kids still have no idea there are any issues," she said. "Eagles Peak did a really good job of transitioning and making it as smooth as possible."
Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.
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joke.. wrote on Jul 27, 2008 11:18 AM:This is a joke. Give me a break. These board members and Mr. Townley feel that they are "clueless" about what has happened.
It reminds me of the cartoon sketch and line "Which way did he go, which way did he go?" The he in this case is the school and the go is...well...you get my point.
PARENTS UNITE!!!!! Board members can be replaced! Watch what happens in VUSD.
a correction please wrote on Jul 27, 2008 11:56 AM:There is one misake in the article.
Where it states what counties River Springs serves, it should include Orange and San Diego counties, as it has home school programs in both.
Donna wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:15 AM:Parent's should be searching out alternative schools for thier children. A dark cloud affects everyone even the kids. This school has been horribly mismanaged, granted, the guilty have moved on to another school, the board is still intact and that is scary.Julian would serve the public by holding EP accountable for thier misuse of monies and personnal gain from thier employment at EP.
Joe wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:11 AM:Parents and teachers are being mislead and should be looking into alternatives. If Julian revokes the charter,which is most likely, it is for very good reasons. The school has no leadership at this time and is in deep trouble financially. An ignorant and self-righteous board got rid of the highly qualified administration that attempted to bring the school into compliance with the law, and since then the board has been micromanaging the "school" through the incompetent interim executive director. Employees are currently scrambling behind the scenes, looking for jobs elsewhere, and clearly there is no leadership at the helm. Five of the seven program directors and the chief ed officer are gone. This "Titanic" should sink soon and wise parents will, like the remaining employees,need to look at other schools of choice/options. Stay tuned for the demise of EPCS...it is coming, especially since there is no competent leadership at this critical time.
Okay now wrote on Jul 28, 2008 1:41 PM:If those whom are responsible for the debit owed by EP would take responsibly for the debit then our children would not be force to leave their school and look for another. I pray that the families that are part of EP will stand behind EP till the end…I also feel that comments regarding the board members are aimed at the wrong person(s).
therealBlueFairy wrote on Jul 28, 2008 2:05 PM:Joe you are right. Employees are scrambling, EP laid off several teachers last week and closed programs in OC and Vista. Is anyone thinking about the children who will not have their ES when school begins? What is going to happen now that parents must scramble also to find a program for their children that they have not had time to investigate fully?
If you are looking into different schools, please keep in mind school terms can begin on different dates.
Oh Boo Hoo wrote on Jul 28, 2008 3:20 PM:Oh Boo Hoo...let us all wail for the poor Eagle's Peak schools...this is the biggest injustice in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD!!! How can the families ever recover from such a dastardly blow? How can we as a society allow this travesty of justice to stand? This is bigger than the election fraud in Zimbabwe!
Maybe the situation could be temporarily "fixed" by putting the children in regular school until a suitable school is located. Maybe the parents can beg, borrow,or steal tuition for a private school. MAYBE THE KIDS CAN JUST GO TO A REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOL LIKE 99% OF THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!
GET OVER IT! NO SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR YOU! DON'T WASTE OUR TAX MONEY!
Joe wrote on Jul 28, 2008 3:29 PM:"Okay now" doesn't know anything about the damage the current board has done. The board is 100% responsible for the current state of the school, not the previous administration that came up with a brilliant settlement with the EPCS Board and started a new charter school that is doing well.
Donna wrote on Jul 28, 2008 5:33 PM:Parents beware! The reason many of you are being contacted is ONLY because EP needs to try to verify how many possible students MAY return so that number can be reported back to Julian in the hopes of "looking good on paper." Be very careful that you are not put in the position of trying to find another school for your student at the last minute.
To Okay Now wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:32 PM:First of all, do you work there, because your grammar and language skills are atrocious. I hope you aren't one of the teachers. Now I know why my kids are in public school. Do you want the school to remain open because you can't find a job elsewhere? ...
Hey Blue Fairy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:08 AM:It's always good to "see" you.
Which programs were closed in OC and Vista?
I'm also curious as to which teachers have been let go.
Nick wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:17 AM:Check out the 7/26 article regarding charter schools.
therealBlueFairy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:38 PM:The Renaissance programs in both counties have closed. As to the teachers, my information is that the teachers from these programs have been let go. I had also heard that some ES' have been released. That information still needs further verification.
Joe wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:09 PM:The board gives advantages to the home school that the other programs do not receive. Parents receive money and they can used it to buy computers, instructional materials of there choice and even to pay tuition at the community colleges. These parents can write the course descriptions, the course requirements, and they give the grades. All other programs have none of these advantages.
Where is the equity????
What do you think of that?
To Joe wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:25 PM:The other programs require instructors to be paid for face-to-face instruction of students enrolled in their programs. Home School students are taught by their parents, therefore, their funds can be spent on items that can be used "at home". There are a variety of programs, so as to meet a variety of parent and student needs. If all EPCS programs looked alike, what we be the reasoning behind the variety? And, college "tuition" is free to all high school students in the state of california. Check your facts before you post.
Joe wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:19 AM:Still, where is the equity? Why does only one of the seven programs have these benefits ? This is one more issue that is questionable among many others.
Joe wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:56 PM:once again....Home School students do not have a teacher directly "teaching" them. Therefore, the money that would have gone to pay the "teacher", can now be used to supplement their learning at home. It's quite simple if you read for understanding. All other programs have to use that money to pay teachers and building costs to house the students. If parents want "funding" for their individual choice, then home school would be the program of choice for them.
Brad wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:12 PM:Ever since the current board took over, its leadership has systematically done everything possible to destroy the school. What a shame! This was a truly great school under the previous leadership.
Did you know the Board is appointing someone who has never taught in a classroom or held a school administrative position as the new director of the Creative Arts Academy?
That should tell you where their heads are, and how much they "care" about our students!
lola wrote on Aug 3, 2008 10:47 PM:Agreed, EP is a joke. STOP wasting TAX $$'s. 3 years ago I enrolled my daughter in this school believing this would be great for my child. I quickly learned there is no leadership, organization and no ownership. I was disgusted and moved my child to a public school once again and yes my child has graduated and thankfully from a public school, I now have renewed faith in public schools.
inside info wrote on Aug 4, 2008 10:53 PM:Not all teachers in the Renaissance programs have been laid off from Vista and Orange County. At the moment, OC is planned to remain open. Some classes will be taught online.
therealBlueFairy wrote on Aug 6, 2008 3:44 PM:The JUHSD meeting on Thurs. is a closed session meeting. Unless action is taken that can be reported in open session, no information will be released after their meeting.
Keep in mind that the action being voted on is to move forward with the "intent to revoke."
A revocation can take many days/months especially if an appeal is filed.
An MOU was not renewed between JUHSD and EPCS.
Donna wrote on Aug 7, 2008 8:41 PM:I heard the meeting was postponed....
DM wrote on Aug 7, 2008 8:44 PM:Joe, when you say "equity" do you mean "equality"?
To DM wrote on Aug 9, 2008 10:24 AM:No, is fairness, impartiality, reasonableness, which means equitable distribution of resources, for that you need good administration of the money that is given for ongoing improvement in all programs, it is not favoritism of one over others.
therealBlueFairy wrote on Aug 9, 2008 4:55 PM:The following information was taken directly from the JUHSD Board Agenda for the meeting on August 11, 2008. Closed session is at 6:00p.m., Open session 7:00p.m.
**See Recommendation at bottom**
The District issued a Notice to Cure and Correct, dated May 20, 2008, pursuant to Education Code § 47607(d) (“Notice to Cure and Correct”), which advised Eagles Peak that unless it provided the District with written responses and documentation that showed Eagles Peak had cured and corrected the financial, curriculum and governance concerns outlined therein no later than May 31, 2008, the District would revoke its Charter. EPCS was granted an extension of June 19, 2008.
Eagles Peak provided a response to the District, dated June 13, 2008 (the “Response”). The District has reviewed the Response about how to remedy the financial, curriculum and governance concerns as requested by the District in the Notice to Cure and Correct. The District may now issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke and Notice of Facts in Support of Revocation pursuant to Section 47607(c) if it feels there is substantial evidence, that the Eagles Peak committed material violations of its charter, failed to meet generally accepted accounting principles, engaged in fiscal mismanagement and/or violated provisions of law.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Governing Board approve the Notice of Intent to Revoke and Notice of Facts in Support of Revocation concerning the Eagles Peak Charter School.
Donna wrote on Aug 9, 2008 7:53 PM:Let's just see how this all pans out. I bet they give EP another extension. Parents be warned; don't wait to find another school, employees; start looking for a new job.
Optional wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:58 AM:EP has complied with all requests from JUSD. If necessary, an extension would be helpful to allow the school to demonstrate its ability to support its programs. The programs are inherently good and families are pleased with their experiences at EP. Even if JUSD votes to revoke tonight, EP is not dead.
In the know wrote on Aug 11, 2008 1:12 PM:I'm sorry, but Eagles Peak is dead. These programs have lost their best teachers (most to River Springs) and the directors have resigned as well. The school year will begin with inexperienced teachers and directors. There will be a great decline in the quality of education that Eagles Peak offers in 2008.
Donna wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:56 PM:EP needs to bow out gracefully and admit defeat. This will allow the children to find other options to further their education.
Waiting to here wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:12 PM:Has anyone heard anything? Just checking...
therealBlueFairy wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:04 AM:The vote last night was 2-2; 2 for revocation and 2 against. JUHSD is not saying what their plans are for the immediate future.
The charter is up for renewal in December. JUHSD could be waiting until then and not renew.
Donna wrote on Aug 12, 2008 10:07 PM:Read updated article written on Aug. 11
Nick wrote on Aug 13, 2008 2:28 PM:If your student is a classroom-based program, do you know that curriculum has not been ordered? Budget concerns. Also, what about the Program Director? Is there one for your students program?
concerned about diploma wrote on Aug 14, 2008 11:46 PM:My daughter just graduated from EP, will her diploma still be valid?
therealBlueFairy wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:07 AM:to diploma:
If the diploma was signed by a qualified individual then yes, the diploma is valid.
JRS wrote on Sep 27, 2008 1:07 AM:I am very glad to hear this. I went to the vista building because I screwed up my first 2 years of highschool at RBV and i regretted screwing around. but during my time there when i was coming close to graduating i had to move to la but i was continuing to go there and my teacher told me she was gonna let me slide on a little bit of my homework to help my family. i did all i could but couldn't do hw that had to do with the computer. i went back to class and she went back on her word and slammed me on a contract to where if i missed one more assignment the rest of the year i would be expelled. my job was to do all the homework. my teacher job was to make sure i knew what was due and was to photocopy my logs for proof i knew what was do. my teacher how ever stopped telling me what was due and hardly ever photocopied. i became a 3.0 GPA student and 2 weeks before school got out for summer she told me i missed 2 assignements both i had no knowledge that it was due and gave me a hr and a half to finish, did i meantion that one of the assignemtns was finishing reading a 50 pages of a book? i finished it but it was sloppy work considering how much time i had but it was done. i went back to class and she rejected my work because "it looks like you worked 25 mins on each of these."
it was not A work and she told me it was C work. and therefore since it wasn't A work my work got rejected terminating my contract and my diploma.
she did tell me i can finish the semester but that was it. me and my mom went down to the building to talk to anyone that can go over her head about what happened but no body really cared.
and when i had to turn in my final project i was a day late. i told my teacher i would like my appointment at 9A.m Tuesday. i went in exactly at that time and turns out it was suspose to be on monday.
this school has always been shady.
the teachers don't teach nor do many know a thing about teaching exeecpt for one of the teachers, that one teacher however was alot of help to anyone that needed help.
also i been trying to get my transcripts and the high school i am gonna be attending both can't get anyone to return or send my transcripts to me or the school. i am glad to see this school go. they have screwed me over and a few friends over in school. i am happy that nobody else would get screwed over by the screw ups this school has done. i do feel bad for the students that are close to graduating
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