Public opinion split on charter proposal

A proposal to open a school offering Eastern Asia-based curriculum met a standing room only crowd with split emotions last night with some requesting another choice while others expressed fear it would benefit few at the cost of the many.

Everest, a proposal for a 400-student school with an emphasis on Eastern Asia in Redwood City, drew an emotionally fueled crowd split on the idea. The Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees denied the Everest proposal in September, which was later appealed to the county generating the 57 opinions shared last night. While proponents pointed to the need and want for a second school with more student choices for students, opponents described the charter as a plea to publicly fund a private school. A vote is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 8.

"Everest is quite simply about giving kids a choice that they believe in, one that they tell us that they want and they need,” said Summit Institute CEO Diane Tavenner, the organization that submitted the proposal.

Tavenner went on to describe the school as the result of demand for a limited number of spots at Redwood City-based Summit Preparatory High School. More than the needed applications for a full freshman class were received, she said.

The district and many teachers, however, argued the opening of another school would be detrimental to Sequoia and does not offer any new choices for students.

"If Everest is denied, no one is hurt. But if the Everest petition is approved, many are hurt,” said Debra Moore Washington, assistant superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District.

Money became the topic of conversation for many critics of the proposal — although it cannot be the basis for which a charter can legally be denied.

About two and a half hours of public comment was a back-and-forth battle between Summit students, teachers and parents sharing wonderful stories of their experiences and the district’s comprehensive high school teachers and district residents pointing toward the negative economic impacts.

"Our schools educate everyone and provide diverse learning opportunities that Everest would not. And for that reason, I would say Everest is not needed,” said Greg Gruszynski, president of the Sequoia District Teachers’ Association. He added the opening of another charter school would exacerbate racial and socioeconomic disparities within the district.

Others evoked the words of president-elect Barack Obama from his acceptance speech calling for a sharing of the wealth and getting along with one another by being open to the idea of a different choice.

Seventh grade student Emma Kerr spoke in favor Everest, a school she hopes will be an option for her when it comes time to attend high school.

"There is a surplus of applications because there is a demand,” she said. "A second school will allow more families an opportunity.”

In a 17-page denial, Sequoia said the Everest petition had a number of shortcomings including not sufficiently addressing special education, a potential deficit of funds, lack of diversity and the unlikely ability to meet the needs of English language learners. Everest leaders, on the other hand, argued many of the district’s points were addressed or are not areas that can be considered for charter denial.

Everest leaders put forward the proposal for an additional charter school noting Summit Prep receives 3.25 applications for each spot. Everest leaders hoped to open in the fall of 2009. It would be the second school working with the newly established Summit Institute. Playing off the location of Mt. Everest, the school would have an Asian theme in literature and history along with the Mandarin language requirement.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.