Aurora charter high to shut down Aurora charter high to shut down (June 23, 2004)

By David Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer

The struggle for existence at Redwood City's Aurora High School is over. After five tumultuous years, the little charter high school -- with 84 students in four grades this year -- is closing when its charter expires at the end of June.

On Tuesday, June 15 -- one day before the San Mateo County Board of Education was scheduled to vote on Aurora's petition for a new charter -- the school's governing board chose to close rather than appeal what seemed a likely rejection, Aurora board president Mark White told the Almanac.

Aurora's board had received an advance copy of a report prepared for the county board that called Aurora's academic program and its financial situation unsound, Mr. White said.

The seven-member county board went ahead and voted 6 to 1 to reject Aurora's petition, with Ted Lempert opposing the decision. Mr. Lempert's territory as a board member includes schools in Redwood City and the Sequoia Union High School District, from which Aurora draws many of its students.

In seeking a charter from the county, Aurora had exercised its right to an appeal after being denied a charter in April by the Sequoia district board, which also criticized Aurora's finances and academic program.

"We respected all the very hard work that (county superintendent John) Mehl and his staff had put into the review process," Mr. White said.

On the issue of financial viability, "It was a situation in which reasonable minds could differ," Mr. White added, but disagreed with the county's finding on the academic program. Three weeks ago, the regional body that accredits high schools granted Aurora's application to begin the accreditation process, Mr. White said.

"It was something of a reassurance, a validation of our view," he said.

On Thursday, June 10, the school graduated its final senior class of 12 students, all of whom are going on to college, Mr. White said.

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