Novato will continue to have just one public charter school for the time being.
A proposed second one, following the mildly controversial Core Knowledge curriculum, won't open by fall 2013 now that the foundation seeking a new educational option for Novato families has decided to make tweaks to its petition and resubmit it to the school district later this year.
The North Bay Educational Foundation announced at public meeting Tuesday night that it will focus on outreach efforts as it targets the 2014-15 school year rather than appeal the Novato Unified School District's petition denial in December.
In a statement, NBEF said it will "take the opportunity to strengthen and revise a few sections of the document, which will allow them to put forth a stronger budget scenario that reflects the passage of Prop 30 this past November. In the coming months, NBEF will continue to focus on the community outreach outlined in the current petition to insure that all members of the community understand the benefits of a Core Knowledge curriculum and the unique school structure that NBEF offers."
The foundation had the choice to appeal to the Marin County School Board or rework sections of the petition and resubmit it to NUSD. The NBEF said it believed its chances on appeal were strong, but fast-approaching deadlines were hampering a fall 2013 opening.
"We appreciate the enormity of the responsibility to educate children in Novato, and we will submit the petition to allow ample time to open the school strongly and successfully," NBEF founder Robert Verhoeff said.
While emphasizing that he and foundation leaders are not giving up, Verhoeff criticized the school board for voting unanimously to deny the charter petition. He said the majority of NBEF supporters believe the district's findings were arbitrary, inaccurate or contained no legal basis for denial.
As Verhoeff reiterated points he already made before the school board, NUSD Superintendent Shalee Cunningham sat at Tuesday's meeting at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church and took occasional notes.
The one-year delay will allow for more communication and public education about Core Knowledge, Verhoeff said.
"We will continue to meet with the community so that all families understand that they are welcome at this open-enrollment public charter school," he said in the statement. "We invite all interested parents and community members to work with us and provide input to insure this school will best serve the needs of our children."
What's your reaction to this move? Share your comments below.
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Kevin McDonald in Novato, California, "My school in California is being flooded with illegals, draining resources and lowering the academic level of the class. Parents are running to private schools. If someone thinks cheap immigrant labor saves them money, ask them to think about how much it would cost to send their kids to a private school from kindergarten through high school." his comments 15 paragraphs down http://www.alipac.us/f12/lou-dobbs-cnn-3-8-05-a-323/
Mr. McDonald has publicly expressed opposition to illegal immigration, therefore.......???? If you would kindly answer the part after "therefore" we can begin to understand your argument and analyze it before accepting it (hopefully). First things first, what's your argument? I look forward to a convincing response.
Disagree - I do not think it is a matter of participation, but more a matter of a desire to participate. As Ralph noted below, Catholic (as well as many other schools of choice) have developed ways to help parents be part of the school. I should also point out - not all participation requires someone to leave their house. As my parents taught me - if there is a will, there is a way. I know NBEF will do everything within its power to help ALL who wish to attend the school and we hope we will receive a locaiton that makes it accessible to many who are unable to commute.
I assume we all recognize that our public schools aren't adequately financed or equipted to fully correct the access and participation issues that you have alluded to - that is the state of things charter or no charter. But doing nothing only works for those that are already successful under the existing structure. For the others, why not allow an opportunity to take a new step? By developing strategies, and setting rational goals with measurable milestones, I think it's possible for a charter to both confront the access/participation problem, and be held accountable for results. The smaller, more accountable governance structure of a charter allows for greater flexibility in exploring new approaches, and greater responsiveness to developing problems.
And, sadly, I don't see a Spanish language version of the application for the new STEM program at San Marin. http://sanmarinstem.weebly.com/apply.html I hope they will remedy that before the Jan. 31st deadline to enroll or that it is available or translates using Google. Having been to the SM STEM presentation, these are good teachers working hard to create good choices to keep and retain high school students in Novato. Are you going to villify them for not having a translated application? I guess NUSD just forgot to translate the STEM materials for them, too.
"Illegal immigration and high rates of legal immigration cause a wide range of social and economic problems, from the growth of gangs in Marin and Sonoma counties to hospital closures, the decline of public schools, wage depression and overcrowding." So I guess he is against legal immigration too because it ruins schools. A huge % of this town is Hiapanic immigrants and you want him to be the face of a school that is welcoming?I dont think so.
"The objective of the North Bay Educational Foundation was never in and of itself a charter school," founder Robert Verhoeff said. "If we can begin having respectful discussions with the stakeholders, then perhaps there are other options that could become available." So NBEF put the community through ALL that ... and wasn't even "set" on opening a new charter?! OMG, I'm sorry but ... COME ON! And I love that Verhoeff is, at long last, agreeing with what we've been saying all along ... let's work with what we have. Geez ................. Can't wait to hear what Serial Poster has to say about this ...........................
The reporter from the IJ was not in attendance and doesn't appear to have accurately portrayed the situation. Doesn't sound like you took the time to attend the meeting either? If you or anyone has specific questions I'd recommend reaching out directly to northbayedu@gmail.com. Or read the release included above with this article.
The article/video above is a week+ old ... then, just yesterday, Mr. V pulls a major backtracking move and says this entire, controversial charter effort wasn't REALLY about starting a new charter school ... he just wants to increase the dialogue about new curriculum options! It only drives home the point that NBEF was a hastily thrown together group ... and look, if the chips had fallen in their favor ... they'd be operating a new school come August 2013 ... on NUSD's dime! A school NBEF's leader now acknowledges he isn't "set" on opening! He'd be open to new curriculum within the existing schools! What a careless, reckless, time-suck way of going about it! Furthermore, opponents repeatedly said "let's start small ... let's implement the curriculum at a school and watch it flourish before we talk new schools." no, no, no they said ... Then Perpetual Poster chimed in, declaring charter schools as the saving grace in CA public educational systems ... Moorepark! Sonoma! Let's go charter-crazy! Too bad NBEF now says a charter school wasn't technically the end goal.
Mr. Verhoeff, I then ask you ... do you intend to pay the district back for the time and resources you forced it to dedicate to the review of a petition that "was never in and of itself the objective of your group?"
http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1109815385358-21/IJ+Clarification.pdf
This thing has become such a hot mess, let's just put it to rest already. (p.s. in his own letter he accuses NUSD of trying to be "one size fits all." not sure that's the case ... one charter already in operation, STEM at San Marin, MSA at Novato High ... shall I continue?)
If you don't want a Waldorf experience for your K-8 child, are there other choices that I am unaware of? If Christian, Ingels and McIntyre would at a minimum post the information from the district, I don't think anyone would have any issue with that website. Opinions are varied, facts tend to be true or false. Would be nice if the district would provide accurate information, too, but financial analyses are based on assumptions and "fair and balanced" doesn't seem to be the way they roll down on 7th street when it comes to evaluating charter schools.