Renaissance High community worries over possible forced move

In the half-century since its inception, Renaissance High School has offered students a small, specialized serene environment for students who need to make up missing credits, and for those with difficulty fitting into a traditional school. 

The remote location and small class sizes help many young people find an educational community that works for them, says Mental Health Clinician Matt Merrill. 

“Coming to our school, they’re removed from some of the daily challenges they face in the community,” he says. “They were in an environment that did not work for them. That’s how they become credit deficient. And when they come here it provides them a space to really get to know who they are without all the external pressures of the school that they weren’t successful in.”

That could change next year, if a plan to relocate the school to the campus of Pajaro Valley High School moves forward.

Ceiba College Preparatory Academy, 215 Locust St., is currently facing a lawsuit by a group of neighbors who claim that the City Council erred in 2023 when it approved a zoning change, a special use permit and an update to the General Plan that will allow the school to stay in its location.

The neighbors cite parking and traffic woes caused by the daily drop-off and pickup times.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for May.

In November, the school submitted a request under Proposition 39, a state law that requires school districts to provide an adequate site for the charter schools in their boundaries. After a feasibility study, the district determined that Renaissance met the criteria Ceiba needs. But the potential move has struck a chord with many community members, who worry about the Monica Nowlin, an academic counselor at Renaissance and New School Community Day School, agreed. 

“Renaissance has been in the community for 55 years,” she said. “Merging these two sites is not only dangerous for their mental health, it’s also dangerous for their physical health. Renaissance High is a staple in our community. It cannot just be moved.”

In a letter to parents, Renaissance High Principal Joseph Smith said that the district has begun talks with the staff of both schools Renaissance and PVHS.

“By starting these discussions early, we have ample time to develop a thoughtful and comprehensive plan that prioritizes the voices, needs and strengths of both PVUSD school communities,” he wrote.

“If Ceiba accepts this offer, PVUSD is committed to facilitating a smooth transition for the school communities,” Smith wrote. “The potential co-location of the RHS educational community to PVHS is based on ensuring access to equitable educational opportunities, adequate facilities, and a supportive learning environment for PVUSD students.”

Smith pointed out that co-location happened in the past, when flooding sent Pajaro Middle School to Lakeview Middle School in 2023.

In addition, when flooding damaged the road to Valencia Elementary School the students were co-located to Aptos High School, Cabrillo College and Mar Vista Elementary.

It is worth noting, however, that the students in both of those instances returned to their schools after they were repaired.

Ceiba Head of School Josh Ripp declined to discuss the ongoing litigation, and said the school has not yet received a formal offer from the district.  

“Ceiba hopes to continue serving our 500 students in grades 6-12 at our current location,” he stated in an email. “If we need to rely on a Prop 39 facility offer from the district, we look forward to working collaboratively with PVUSD to find a suitable facility solution.”

Ripp pointed to his school’s own struggle to find a permanent location.

“We understand and empathize with the Renaissance school community’s concerns about a potential move,” he said. “Ceiba, too, has faced the possibility of changes to our site and recognizes the stress that such changes can have on students, families, and staff. Again, Ceiba hopes to continue serving students at our current location.”

But Renaissance teacher Aurelia Donnelly says that she’s seen the negative side of two schools sharing a campus, including Watsonville High School sharing its athletic field with PVHS before it got its own.

“That never went well,” she said. “PV never had truly equal access to those facilities, and it was always a source of tension.”

She also pointed out that PVHS still lacks a pool and a performing arts center.

Merrill said that many of the students at Renaissance High lack credits because they stop going to school, which happens for many reasons.

“Some don’t feel safe, some feel bullied, some feel unseen, some feel social anxiety, some feel that a class of 30 people is too much,” he said. 

And that is why Renaissance works for them, he said. 

“Coming here does inspire hope,” he said. “It’s really like a sense of safety, and being seen and being heard. Renaissance is a rebirth, and coming here that is what happens.”

Ripp says that Ceiba will stay at its current site. And while it is not clear whether the school will accept the district’s offer, PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras says the district must move forward as if it is going to happen.

“We have this request, and we need to try to respond to the request in the best possible way we can to support both communities with a lens on what’s best for students in this situation,” she said.