WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Unified School District on Wednesday rejected a petition by a charter school organization that hoped to open a new school in Watsonville for the 2019-20 school year.
The trustees denied the petition with a 5-0 vote. Board President Leslie DeRose and Trustee Georgia Acosta were absent.
Navigator Schools submitted its 749-page charter petition on March 28 to open Watsonville Prep School. PVUSD staff recommended rejecting the petition this week. The organization already runs Hollister Prep and Gilroy Prep in those cities.
PVUSD Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez outlined several reasons why the district was recommending the denial, and said the organization outlined an “unsound education program” in its petition.
“We believe they are unlikely to successfully implement the program, based on the petition,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez started by expressing concern that the organization would not offer transitional kindergarten. Many students, she said, come into their kindergarten year needing that extra year to catch up with their peers.
“This is a significant concern to me,” she said.
Rodriguez said the charter presented an unrealistic financial plan. In one case the organization listed a $150,000 donation during its first year, but did not outline where the donation would come from.
In addition, the charter showed a $3,500 budget for textbooks in the first year, which Rodriguez said was likely inadequate.
But Heather Parsons, who was supporting the petition, said that all students would be given iPads and as such will have a “21st century approach” to access the necessary curriculum.
The petition also made no mention of how it would pay for a facility, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez also said the charter petition made no mention of how it would pay for a transportation program, and gave no plan for how the school will pay its middle school program when implemented in six years.
There was also no comprehensive plan on how the school would address migrant students who return after being absent during the harvest season, Rodriguez said.
The petition also outlined “obsolete” teaching methodologies that are not in line with common core standards.
Dozens of parents who had hoped to enroll their kids in the school attended the meeting and urged the trustees to support the charter petition.
Veronica Rubio, a mother of four children, said through a translator that she has two daughters she wants to attend the school.
“That is why I am here today — for them to have a better education,” she said.
Navigator Director of Community Outreach Kirsten Carr pointed out that both Gilroy and Hollister Prep schools have been “unanimously approved” by their districts when their charter came up for renewal.
Timothy Pearson, who said his two daughters attend Hollister Prep School, touted that school’s program.
“I want for my kids to have different opportunities than I had,” he said.
Trustee Karen Osmundson said that PVUSD already has six charter schools, each of which offer a “unique” program. One — Ceiba College Preparatory Academy — is independent and as such is beyond the reach of district oversight, she said.
That school, she said, recently fired two teachers, who had no representation.
“I am really not excited about independent charters,” Osmundson said.
Osmundson also pointed out that the organization has been denied in at least two other districts.
Trustee Maria Orozco said she would rather put the money into supporting the 20,500 students of the district, rather than dedicate it to an independent charter school.
Trustee Willie Yahiro said he was concerned that one board of directors would oversee all three schools, leaving little representation for Watsonville area families and students.
“I feel very uneasy sending over $1.3 million without any local control,” Yahiro said.
Several trustees expressed concern about Proposition 39, a state law requiring school districts to provide new charter schools with facilities in which to operate.
While Navigator Schools CEO Kevin Sved said the school planned to find its own facility to “lease and develop,” he said the organization had not yet waived its Prop. 39 rights.
Rodriguez said that Navigator would have the right to demand a facility, and that the district would have to provide it at “many locations.”
Trustee Kim De Serpa lambasted the charter organization for its plan to utilize parent support.
Many, she said, are working three jobs to make ends meet. She described families living in crowded homes and sleeping on mattresses on the floor.
“I’m wondering if you know how expensive it is to live on this side of the hill,” she said. “The population of people you will be working with are people who are struggling to make a living.”
After the vote, Sved said he was “disappointed” in the decision, and said he would appeal to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.
“We have phenomenal outcomes with students,” he said. “It’s proven. It’s indisputable.
“We are committed to bringing this option to the people of Watsonville.”
•••
Teacher contract approved
In other news, the trustees approved an agreement between Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers and the district, that will give the educators a 7 percent raise over three years, beginning with a retroactive 1 percent raise for the 2016-17 school year.
The agreement came after 17 months of tense negotiations which at times prompted teachers to pack the board meetings and line up to urge the trustees to approve salary increases.
Teachers will also get a 2 percent bonus for 2016-2017, a retroactive 2 percent increase for the 2017-18 school year, and a 4 percent increase that goes into effect in July.
The agreement includes a 13 percent increase over three years for early childhood and adult education teachers.
Teachers also agreed to permanently increase the work year by two days, and to minimal increases to their prescriptions and co-pays in their health insurance plans.
The agreement was approved 5-0, with trustees DeRose and Acosta absent.
•••
Management agreement
The trustees also approved a similar pay increase for hundreds of management positions.
The agreement includes a 1 percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2016, a 2 percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2017 and a 3 percent raise effective July 1 of this year.
The management agreement also includes minor changes to the health plan.
It applies to Mark Brewer and Lisa Aguerria Lewis, who serve as assistant superintendent of elementary and secondary education, respectively. It also applies to Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez and Chief Business Officer Joe Dominguez. Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Susan Perez and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Chona Killeen are also included.
