Charter school delayed

Organizers are taking the news well and said it gives them a chance to take a step back and assess its real estate strategy. Until now, organizers were moving very aggressively. This month, they hired a principal, Joe Feldman, who has a masters in education from Harvard University.

The setback is another obstacle for the high school and its organizers who originally wanted to open the school at a city-owned 15-acre site across from City Hall. The City Council said the land was too valuable for a school that could turn out to be temporary. The Foster City Boulevard site was also subject to some controversy since neighboring businesses had concerns that the school may not be appropriate for the corporate environment.

The decision bumps the planned opening from fall 2005 to fall 2006, said organizer Peter Hayden, who emphasized that the 15-acre site is still on the table for discussion.

"It allows us to take a breath and find the best real estate status for us and the best location for the district ... ," Hayden said.

At this point, the Foster City Charter School Foundation may look at other sites in the city and may even make an offer on the Equity Office Partners property. Hayden said the company is going through a restructuring and may be interested in selling the building to the foundation.

"It may turn out to be a blessing," Hayden said. "Who knows?"

Proponents of the school want it to serve as an alternative to the traditional high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District by offering a curriculum based on the high-tech industry.

Jon Mays can be reached by e-mail at jon@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 107. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.