Home › News › Camarillo
Board advised to nix open school plan
Parents reject district staff report that petition legally invalid
Download this story as a podcast!
RELATED STORIES
STORY TOOLS
More from Camarillo
Theresa Pollara stood up in the middle of a Camarillo school board meeting this year and marched toward the dais, a charter school petition in hand.
The Pleasant Valley School District board had just voted 4-1 to close Los Senderos Open School one of several closure decisions made in March under the assumption that they would save the district money.
Having interrupted the meeting, Pollara was immediately escorted out of City Hall by a uniformed deputy. And dozens of other Los Senderos parents flooded out the doors after her. Several left in tears after having spent weeks fighting for their alternative school to stay intact.
While some of those parents have continued to fight for the school, they also have organized, holding sometimes daily planning meetings to discuss a proposed charter school, called the Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education, or CAPE.
Petitioners have asked to convert Los Senderos into a charter school the only way, they said, they could protect the long-standing program.
Pleasant Valley trustees will consider approving the charter Thursday night.
District officials have recommended that the board deny the request. They outlined their concerns in a 25-page report of "recommended findings of fact."
The negative review calls the educational program unsound and the petition legally inadequate, saying that the required number of signatures of support was not included.
"The term 'findings of fact' they used that term loosely," said Chris Parker, a Los Senderos parent and a leader of the charter efforts.
According to the petitioners, CAPE would operate under the "open school" philosophy stressing parental involvement and global awareness that the alternative program has developed for more than 30 years. If approved, the school would open to kindergartners through eighth-graders in the fall and offer an alternative to a "one size fits all" education.
Pleasant Valley started discussing closures publicly in January and decided to close Los Senderos two months later. That left petitioners with just months to get approval for a charter in time to open in September so Los Senderos students would not lose the educational program, they said.
Petitioners doubt promises
After closing the open school, the Pleasant Valley board designated another campus as an open philosophy magnet where Los Senderos students could get priority. But that school will not have grades six, seven or eight as an option, and the program would likely change as it's merged with students and families at the existing campus.
Petitioners have noted the existing open program's success. But district officials said they have no guarantee of what would happen should the school gain independence as a charter.
Acting Superintendent Barbara Davis said the district would know the curriculum being taught, the tests being used and the services offered to English-language learners if the program stays as a district school.
But as a charter, she said, "we have to rely on the documents they provide us."
At a public hearing in April, district staff members listed a series of questions they said needed to be answered in the petition.
Pleasant Valley officials also reported last month that the charter school would likely cost the district students and state funding based on attendance numbers.
Parker said charter schools were created to operate without the bureaucracy of a school district getting in the way. Still, he added, "we answered those questions. We gave more information than we thought was necessary."
The district listed pages of deficiencies that ranged from typos in the application to items that officials said were missing from a proposed budget, such as money needed for technology infrastructure and nursing services.
Many disagreements
The district and petitioners also are at odds over how many signatures needed to be included on the petition.
"We have a legal charter application," Parker said. "We are disappointed but not surprised that district staff would come up with false and misleading issues to try and derail the charter application."
If the board follows the staff recommendation and denies the petition, charter proponents could appeal to the Ventura County Board of Education.
The county would use the same list of legal requirements to evaluate a petition, said Joe Mendoza, director of the county's special populations educational support.
When a petition gets to the county level, Mendoza said, staff members would study the application, and advise proponents on what's missing and what should be done to strengthen it.
Posted by Dirkdiggler on May 16, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Adults acting like kids. "If you close my school, I'll open my own school". Schools needed to be closed, it is unfortunate but necessary.
Posted by illuminate on May 16, 2007 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, Dirk, we're parents trying to protect our choices and input into our childrens' education. By redesignating the alternative schools to magnet schools, the district has eliminated the steering committees that ensure parental input. Charter schools are meant to improve the quality of public education, provide choices to parents and engage the school district in some healthy competition. We all know the dangers of monopolies in business; the same can occur in education. Charter schools are the wave of the future in California and a necessary step to improve our educational system. Ventura County has a number of charter schools already, and two pro-charter board members were just yesterday elected to LA Unified. Hundreds of parents do not want cookie-cutter educational approaches for their children. CAPE will be a real asset to the families of Camarillo and Ventura County. This story has only begun. Keep watching.....
Posted by illuminate on May 16, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For more information about Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education and charter schools, visit www.camarillocharter.org
Posted by shaver_one on May 16, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You want a privately run school that's paid for by the taxpayers. Sorry...not gonna happen.
It truely is a shame that your school is to be closed down. But, it's no more a shame than any other school that's being closed down. If you're unhappy with the Board's decision, and the choice laid out before you as to which school will replace yours, Open your own school...paid for by tuition...maintained by private funds. Or...home-school. But, don't ask the taxpayers to foot the bill.
Posted by melissap626 on May 16, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just want to clarify what a "Charter School" is:
Charter schools are publicly funded elementary or secondary schools in the United States which have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools, in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each charter school's charter.
So, to sum it up, charter schools are public schools. They get their funding the same way neighborhood schools and magnet schools get theirs. Anyone can atted who lives in the state of the school. Enrollment is usually by lottery. They are not confined to using curriculum that school districts enforce. Children take the same state tests as the rest of public schools. The schools are held accountable for test scores. Teachers teach to the standards, but have the freedom to use whatever curriculum or methods to get there.
I am so thankful that charter schools exist, as I have two daughters at Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education. I could not be happier with the enriching education that they are receiving from very qualified teachers and administrators. Charter schools might not be for everyone, but aren't choices in our children's education important to have?
Posted by illuminate on May 16, 2007 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just to clarify - charters are public schools that benefit all tax-paying parents who are interested in that educational choice. UPS is successfully serving hundreds of families in Camarillo and Ventura County and so will CAPE. More alternatives for public education benefit the many, not just the few. Let's not forget that the teachers, parents and community members who support charter schools are taxpayers as well.
Posted by pinsakceo on May 16, 2007 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, if the parents removed their children from the district to enroll them into private school, the public school district loses the same amount of money. Schools are funded in large part by Average Daily Attendance ( ADA ), which for PVSD comes out to be about $5289 per year. The district only receives that money if the child is enrolled in the district. So, it doesn't matter if the kids go to private, or home school or charter school, the district still loses that money.
Posted by CAPEDad on May 16, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone questioning the PVSD board’s bias against the CAPE charter need only look at Ron Speakman’s comment at the April 19th meeting at www.YouTube.com (search Ron Speakman PVSD). In this video clip, Speakman calls the charter parents stinking bull excrement (I’m paraphrasing here – watch it yourself). Are we supposed to work with this man? Is he looking out for his constituents or his own ego? He’s painted himself into a corner. Let’s see how he gets out.
Posted by melissap626 on May 16, 2007 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"-Eleanor Roosevelt
Posted by aliceblois on May 16, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good to finally know who was behind posting that clip on YouTube. CAPE has stooped to an all time low with their tattletale gotcha of Ron Speakman. He made a harmless aside comment not meant for the public. He is entitled to his own opinion as I'm sure many of the CAPE supporters have made own nasty comments to one another about the board. Whoever posted the video is extremely immature and anyone who is truly shocked needs to take a look in the mirror. Grow up!
Posted by melissap626 on May 16, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it wasn't meant for the public it should have not been said in a public place. Shouldn't he be held to higher, non-biased standards than those not serving on the board? Shame on him!! Good luck Cape parents, teachers, kids!
Posted by illuminate on May 16, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a representative of one of the CAPE committee, CAPE had absolutely nothing to do with the YouTube posting. That was posted by PVRecall, which is not connected with CAPE at all. Alice, be careful about jumping to conclusions. The tendency is running rampant these days.
Posted by pinsakceo on May 16, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CAPE parents have been repeatedly accused of posting that video. We didn't do it! There are many other people in the community who are unhappy enough with the school board to post it. CAPE parents really have nothing left to lose - we would proudly have posted our moniker if it was, indeed, us.
I do agree that board members are entitled to their opinion. However, I was not unhappy that this went public. I have received many venemous e-mails from Mr. Speakman in the past. I think that there are ways for people, especially those who chose to be in the public eye, to disagree with each other without resorting to condenscending put-downs.
Melissap626 - thanks for your support - Glad your charter is doing well!
Posted by SurfKat on May 16, 2007 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a parent of a child entering kindergarten this Fall, I was appalled at the way the Board sweep in and closed schools so close to the yearly registration window. I walked through the alternative schools and my neighborhood school and did thorough research on each, only to find the Board was closing one of the best schools in the District - not some of the poorer performing schools. I will wait out the Charter, even if it means signing up and having my child attend the neighborhood school for a year. The Board was smart enough to close the schools so close to the registration period, making it impossible to sign my child up in the private sector (which again, takes money out of the District). CAPE - I'll be waiting!
Posted by aliceblois on May 16, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wouldn't have jumped to the conclusion if CAPEdad hadn't posted it.
Posted by Laurie on May 17, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To the PVSD School Board:
I was proud to be in the 1st third-grade class at Valle Lindo, so I felt a great loss when it was closed, but I understood. There were other neighborhood schools to choose from. At Los Altos’ open house last night I cried. My father worked there as a teacher & vice principal for 20 years, so I have quite a history there, even though I went to Monte Vista. I am sad, but I agree that it should be closed. There are other middle-school choices in the district. Yes, we were angry and sad about your decision to close Los Senderos. We parents have a voice there, because of its alternative status. By making the so-called “open” school at Rancho Rosal a Magnet school instead of Alternative, you have taken our ability to have a voice & thereby a choice in our children’s education, and you have done the same with Los Primeros. You have taken a system that was not broken & have tried to “fix it” for some unknown reason. Can you tell us why? You have never addressed that with us.
The people who are fighting so hard to open CAPE are not misbehaving children deserving of chastisement. Don’t make us the bad guys for mistakes that others have made along the way. No matter how certain groups perceive & portray us, we are not starting CAPE as retaliation against the teachers & their union, other schools for not being on the closure list, or the board who closed us. We are not doing this with an immature disregard for the rest of PVSD. On the contrary, we are a group of responsible adults who are very concerned about the health of this school district.
We chose for our kids to be members of a small middle school, and you have taken that choice away from us. We chose for our kids to be in an Open Philosophy Alternative learning environment, and you have taken that choice away from us too. We know that as their parents, we have the right to make these choices. As all responsible parents do, we want to be able to provide the best choice for our kids, & we know that CAPE is that choice. I challenge you to step up to the plate, think outside the box, and join us in knowing that approving CAPE is the choice for our community.
Posted by CAPEDad on May 17, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Aliceblois,
Boy, oh boy, did you nail me. Your deduction was brilliant:
CAPEDad doesn’t like Speakman.
YouTube poster doesn’t like Speakman.
Therefore, CAPEDad = YouTube poster
It couldn’t have been any of the other 1200 YouTube viewers.
I’ve got to confess though that I did enjoy the YouTube post. Speakman most certainly is a pompous ass and the video proves it.
Posted by aliceblois on May 17, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, CAPEDad. My mistake. I just hate to see how mean spirited the nice people of Camarillo have become. What he said wasn't very nice, I agree, but posting it on Youtube (and again in this thread) was pretty juvenile. Apparently you have the same opinion of one another, but he was caught on tape. I don't think personal attacks really help move us forward.
Posted by CAPEDad on May 17, 2007 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aliceblois,
You're right - there is no place for this - but it is democracy in action. Elected officials, especially the board president, should know better. The key difference here is that I'm not going to be voting on the charter approval. I think it's fair to say that we already know Speakman and Berg's decision. Will we get Lerner, Miller, AND Kitchens? I'm not betting on it. Odds are 4-1 opposed.
Oh well, county here we come!
Posted by aliceblois on May 17, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fair enough. From what I've heard you can count on your approval from the county (doubt it will happen tonight), so CAPE will probably become a reality sooner or later.
Posted by CAPEDad on May 17, 2007 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Alice. Talk to you next time - it was fun. You're a good sport.
Posted by btaylor on May 17, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is some good to what this Board has done. They have brought together parents from every School in the district in an effort to recall due to a lack of confidence.
Posted by heregoes on May 18, 2007 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing in the paper today - what happened at the meeting last night?
Posted by JohnAlamillo on May 18, 2007 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
C.A.P.E was denied. I thought it strange that while the board was still patting themselves on the back for 'a job well done' Mr. Speakman started dialog with Mrs. Kitchens about chairing a committee for more school closures next year. Why couldn't we have waited one year to properly gather information? This whole scenerio will be played out again next year. Do we have the portables in the right sites? Lack of planning this year leads to more student movement next. CHS, SRMTS, DCS, LPS, EDS don't plant any new trees.
Posted by heregoes on May 18, 2007 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That was what I had expected.
But when the county approves CAPE for 2008 and the district loses those children there will no doubt have to be more school closures. Better to start planning now and get it right with some proper notice to parents.
Posted by CAPEDad on May 18, 2007 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The sandbox was fun.
Now it's time to go inside with the adults.
This is CAPEDad. Over and out.
Posted by SDmom on May 18, 2007 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the deal with the paper today. the denial was the leading article on my paper (Camarillo section) but is not anywhere online. Parents at CAPE are sorry that things had to go this way. We were truly hoping to work with the district. It just didin't happen. We all hope for the best for everyone in PVSD. The blame game against CAPE will start now. We feel most parents realize where the true blame should be. The parents at CAPE are hardworking caring parents that want what is best for all children in CAMARILLO. Choice and innovative teaching from amazing teachers will help our children succeed in the future.
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.