Charter school concept gains ground Charter school concept gains ground (June 30, 2004)

When they first appeared about five years ago, charter schools were not welcome in the local high school district. In fact, the schools were viewed as competitors and given very little comfort by board members of the Sequoia Union High School District.

But after losing a court case, and realizing that charter schools actually could offer the perfect environment for some students to succeed, district officials have had a remarkable change of heart. In fact, they now are planning to duplicate the charter environment in their own schools.

The turnabout is a refreshing change from the bickering that just a few years ago characterized the relationship between groups of parents hoping to charter their own school and district officials. Not surprisingly, much of the contention was over money -- whether the Sequoia district had an obligation to financially support charter school students.

So-called basic-aid districts like Sequoia receive revenues from local property taxes regardless of how many students show up. But within a year, state law is expected to require chartering districts to take over annual payments of $5,400 for each charter school student living within its boundaries. In addition, a judge -- in a ruling clarifying state Proposition 39 -- required school districts to provide classrooms and other space for charter schools when a district passes a bond measure that takes advantage of the proposition's 55-percent majority threshold.

With the controversy and several rule changes now behind it, Sequoia has recognized that with its enrollment growing at 2 percent to 3 percent a year, it makes sense to support smaller high schools instead of forcing more and more students into its already overcrowded comprehensive high schools. It is a profound change in philosophy, but one that, in the end, will offer high school students alternatives that the district believes will prove popular.

For starters, in March the district announced that Menlo-Atherton High School Principal Eric Hartwig would be leaving M-A to oversee a new, three-year high school that would meet University of California graduation requirements. The idea is for the school to invite students willing to forego extras like advanced-placement classes and athletic programs in exchange for small classes, support and an interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as graduation in three -- instead of four -- years. The school would peak at about 350 students and 15 teachers.

Another Sequoia initiative -- to partner with the Ravenswood School District to provide a new building for the 3-year-old East Palo Alto High School -- is planned for next year. East Palo Alto High, which was chartered by Ravenswood and is operated by Aspire Public Schools, has 240 students this year and plans to add 80 more next school year. It currently operates out of the old Menlo Oaks School campus on Pope Street in Menlo Park. Aspire may combine the new high school with parts of a K-8 elementary charter school it operates on Runnymede Street in East Palo Alto. The Ravenswood district will issue the charter to Aspire, giving the community its own high school for the first time since 1976, when Sequoia closed Ravenswood High School.

Two other charter high schools -- Summit Prep in Redwood City and San Carlos High School in San Carlos -- are just completing their first years. Each hopes to serve 300 to 400 students when all four grade levels are enrolled.

Some initiatives have lost ground. Aurora School, the first to open in the area, has announced that it will close its doors after five difficult years of operation. The Sequoia district and the county superintendent of schools both concluded that the school's education program was unsound and that its finances were not viable.

With its large and growing enrollment, Sequoia is evolving into a more nimble school district that is moving to meet student needs in creative and new ways. While floating a bond measure is a traditional means of raising capital-improvement money -- which Sequoia did with the Measure G in 2001 -- there is more to come.

Last week the district announced its intention to seek voter approval in November to extend the life -- and the income -- from Measure G. If successful, the extension could add another $40 million to $70 million in construction financing to the district over the next several years by extending rather than raising taxes, including $6 million for the new East Palo Alto High School.

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