County Appeal
Wednesday, October 15
5:00 pm
This is a time change!
Dear Educators, Parents, and Community Members,
Voices College-Bound Language Academy and Navigator Schools' charter petitions were recently denied by the Morgan Hill Unified School District. They have both filed appeals with the Santa Clara County School Board to open publicly funded charter schools in the fall of 2015, despite our local board's decision.
The public hearing for both appeals will be this Wednesday at 5:00, at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, 1290 Ridder Park Dr., San Jose. The vote will likely occur at the November 19 county board meeting. It is critical that we have a strong showing at BOTH meetings, to show support for our Morgan Hill students and neighborhood schools.
While these charter companies state that they have innovative programs, in fact our own district's investigation found numerous problems with both proposed charters. And their emphasis on rote learning in front of a computer screen is anything but innovative. In Morgan Hill, we have already developed our own innovative schools, including:
- DIME -- a dual-immersion academy with an environmental science emphasis
- Jackson's Math and Music Academy
- San Martin-Gwinn's Environmental Science Academy
- Walsh's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Academy
It will take a unified effort (students, parents, and educators) to send the clear message that our schools are already providing innovation and parent choice. It is critical that our parents', community members' and educators' voices are heard. Please let the Santa Clara County School Board members know that you value your neighborhood schools, and they should support the local decision to deny these charters, which would take over space in our existing schools and divert much-needed resources from the remaining students (while providing a substandard education for those enrolled in the charter schools)!
Have we already said this?
Parents, Teachers, Community Members:
Your attendance at the Santa Clara County Board Meeting this Wednesday is critical!
We know that people will be coming directly from work or school. The Federation of Teachers will be providing Chipotle burritos, water, and a sweet treat in the parking lot between 4pm - 5pm.
If you have a child who has been well-served in Morgan Hill public schools, if you know the importance of maintaining strong public schools, if you value a quality public education for all students and oppose the takeover of our neighborhood schools by corporate models, we really hope to see you there. (Please remember that these charters are nothing like Charter School of Morgan Hill, but seek to paint themselves as similar.)
If you are unable to attend, please let your voice be heard by emailing Leon Beauchman, board president, at leon_beauchman@sccoe.org. Please address your email to "All Santa Clara County School Board Trustees."
We sincerely hope to see you there! We cannot protect our neighborhood schools without your help!
This Election Matters!
Over $30k has been spent by the California Charter Schools Association to influence our local election. We must get the message out that our endorsed candidates will support all of our students and neighborhood schools.
Bring a friend and come meet the five candidates this Thursday, October 16 between 5:00-7:00 at Theresa Sage's home -- 775 Alkire Avenue, Morgan Hill.