Charter parents in shock

High Tech High, the Redwood City charter school open for just a year and half, met its ends last night when the board of directors from San Diego voted unanimously to close the doors and sell the building by June.

The board decision comes eight days after parents received a letter announcing the school’s intention and despite pleas from approximately 200 parents and students to delays any decisions to allow for fundraising efforts. The school is one of seven operated by High Tech High and the only one outside of the San Diego area. The satellite school didn’t hold up to financial projections, was having trouble paying rent and didn’t have enough money to buy the building it resides in at 890 Broadway.

"It’s an absolute bottom line thing to do,” said board member Kay Davis.

Parents were shocked and angered by the board’s sudden decision and refusal to delay the decision. However, the energetic group refused defeat and offered help to keep the doors open. Even at evening’s end, some parents were already planning weekend meetings to discuss next steps.

"We love High Tech High. High Tech High is the first of what should be many High Tech High schools in the Bay Area and Northern California. We are here tonight to ensure that the High School High Model and organization does not fail outside of San Diego,” said parent Frank Gerrity of Half Moon Bay.

Parents complained they were promised a four year commitment from High Tech High, which claims significant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a local advisory board, said parent Fritz Ender of Half Moon Bay.

The attendees vowed to raise enrollment by way of "parent marketing” and raise money by using their status in Silicon Valley. Many of the parents work at high-profile companies such as Abbott Laboratories and Sun Microsystems, where potential for donations abound.

Attempts to raise enrollment and increase donations failed during the last year and a half. It hired a local public relations firm to conduct the outreach. By this time the school was expecting an enrollment of 360, but only has 240 students, said Chief Operating Officer Jeb Wallace.

Obtaining bank funding to purchase the building was not possible, he said.

"Charter schools have been around, in California, since 1992, but are still looked at as the new kid on the block,” said Wallace.

The organization had the option to pursue purchase of the building using federal tax credits, but that would require at least a seven-year commitment High Tech High was unwilling to make, Wallace said.

Some questioned why the organization did not apply under state Proposition 39 for property through the school district that holds its charter. Under that law, the Sequoia High School District is required to provide property to the school. The application was due in the fall. Summit Charter School, which is also chartered through the high school district, was granted space.

In an interesting twist, Summit — which currently resides in portables at Sequoia High School —could occupy the vacated High Tech High building next school year. Since High Tech High didn’t have the money to buy the building on Broadway, the owner sold it to the high school district.

The high school district is currently trying to find space for both Summit High and its adult school.

High Tech High chose not to file for property under Proposition 39 because officials thought they’d be offered substandard facilities, like the portables offered to Summit.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.