Wow! I just spent two hours in witness of genuine and worthy praise of the successes achieved at Sequoia, our local public high school, then saw that same body express a 5-1 lack of support for an even more successful program, simply because it is a charter school. False information, politically motivated maneuvering to meet the lowest requirements allowable and sheer stubborness on the part of 5 school board members prevented the passing of a motion for the board to consider a reasonable proposal for the provision of a facility to house the new State-approved charter school, Everest.
And the quote of the night came from Lorraine Rumley who actually said she supported the District's proposal to offer Everest a one year campus comprised of portable units located in East Palo Alto because, (I paraphrase) "sending the Everest students to East Palo Alto would be a wonderful gift to that community, to show them how involved parents and motivated students can create an example for that community."
Is it just me, or does that kind of thinking smack of social engineering and, uh prejudice?
Oh, and who can forget that the same board member along with Gordon Lewin commented on how beautiful the campus will be, based on the architectural renderings. Yeah, a few illustrated MATURE trees and shrubs sure can dress up 7 portable structures that don't meet the required space and usage needs determined by the State of California. Not to mention that It's a fantastic idea to put a new high school in an area that has a murder rate 3.67 times the national average instead of one that has a murder rate 0.35 times the national average. Yeah, That'll show them East Palo Alto types how to act!
I'm not sure I have the stomach for local, petty politics, but something has to be done to bring the close-minded elected officials into the 21st century. Sorry to break the news to you schoolboard folks. But the genie is out of the bottle. The plain fact is that there are now several models of education success and we need a school board who is willing to find a way to support success wherever it can be found, not just in the programs that renovate the "traditional" high school programs.
Redwood City is blessed to have a motivated base of teachers and administrators in our high schools and charter schools. Both models are reversing the long trend of school systems that have failed far too many students over the years. It's time to wholly support success wherever it can be found. It's also time for a school board who understands that.
And the quote of the night came from Lorraine Rumley who actually said she supported the District's proposal to offer Everest a one year campus comprised of portable units located in East Palo Alto because, (I paraphrase) "sending the Everest students to East Palo Alto would be a wonderful gift to that community, to show them how involved parents and motivated students can create an example for that community."
Is it just me, or does that kind of thinking smack of social engineering and, uh prejudice?
Oh, and who can forget that the same board member along with Gordon Lewin commented on how beautiful the campus will be, based on the architectural renderings. Yeah, a few illustrated MATURE trees and shrubs sure can dress up 7 portable structures that don't meet the required space and usage needs determined by the State of California. Not to mention that It's a fantastic idea to put a new high school in an area that has a murder rate 3.67 times the national average instead of one that has a murder rate 0.35 times the national average. Yeah, That'll show them East Palo Alto types how to act!
I'm not sure I have the stomach for local, petty politics, but something has to be done to bring the close-minded elected officials into the 21st century. Sorry to break the news to you schoolboard folks. But the genie is out of the bottle. The plain fact is that there are now several models of education success and we need a school board who is willing to find a way to support success wherever it can be found, not just in the programs that renovate the "traditional" high school programs.
Redwood City is blessed to have a motivated base of teachers and administrators in our high schools and charter schools. Both models are reversing the long trend of school systems that have failed far too many students over the years. It's time to wholly support success wherever it can be found. It's also time for a school board who understands that.
5 comments:
Politics are fun aren't they?
Simply too much partisanship. For all the Silicon Valley philosophy of being a culture that rewards innovation, It's puzzling to see an organization that is only looking for specific class of improvement.
Where was the proposed facility located? What were the stated reasons for not passing the motion to approve that one, instead of hauling the kids off to East Palo Alto? I mean, besides wanting to give a "gift" to that community. This whole thing makes me want to throw up. It's one thing if the students actually live in East Palo Alto. Then you are giving them a gift; the opportunity to succeed within an educational model that has proven more successful that the public schools. But just to throw up a few portables and some shrubs, and hope that the gangsters passing by will notice what a great education those kids are getting, is asinine. Not that I am surprised. I work under these geniuses. I would have expected more from Silicon Valley, though.
Alex, please comment here about the challenges your charter is facing in Los Angeles.
Well, I am at a public school right now. Anthony is working to get Marenco Charter High School up and running for next year, but I am not too involved in that process. I know that he is having challenges getting funding because of the economy, but I don't know about his specific challenges. I will let him know about this blog.
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