The culmination of Piru's charter battle
"The Piru charter petition was approved 5-2 by the California Advisory Commission on Charter Schools at an April 6 in Sacramento. The chairwoman, Beth Hunkapiller, explained that the legal duty of the commission is to determine if the charter petition meets the 16 required elements. The petition must contain an appropriate educational plan and a budget that is balanced.
The charter petitioners and administrators of the Fillmore Unified School District then gave their presentations, followed by questions from the commissioners mainly about enrollment and the budget.
Questions to administrators mainly focused on their denial of the charter. Superintendent Jeff Sweeney responded by saying, “Ask the parents; they will tell you.” It seems Sweeney was oblivious to the fact that the commissioners wanted his professional assessment.
About 50 people, mostly charter opponents, addressed the commission. After a public deliberation, the vote was taken. If the California Department of Education grants approval next month, the last step in converting Piru Elementary School to Piru Charter"
The charter petitioners and administrators of the Fillmore Unified School District then gave their presentations, followed by questions from the commissioners mainly about enrollment and the budget.
Questions to administrators mainly focused on their denial of the charter. Superintendent Jeff Sweeney responded by saying, “Ask the parents; they will tell you.” It seems Sweeney was oblivious to the fact that the commissioners wanted his professional assessment.
About 50 people, mostly charter opponents, addressed the commission. After a public deliberation, the vote was taken. If the California Department of Education grants approval next month, the last step in converting Piru Elementary School to Piru Charter"
Saving a neighborhood school
The concept of a neighborhood public elementary school is as American as apple pie. Neighborhood schools provide our children neighborhood friends. A neighborhood school also provides a culture similar to the culture in which our homes are located.
Further, in a neighborhood school, our children are generally closer to us — we can get to them more quickly in emergencies when we must. Finally, we can attend meetings at school more easily if our house is near to the school.
The concept of a neighborhood school is being severely tested right now in the small, rurally isolated town of Piru. Culturally, it is home to ranchers and farmers who have lived among the citrus orchards, palm trees and cactus for generations. A large Spanish-speaking population, some of them migrant, also live both in Piru and close by in a housing development called Rancho Sespe.
Piru contains one public elementary school. A sign on campus reads, “Piru Elementary School Est. 1887.” Of its 345 students, Spanish is the home language for 191 of the students, or 55 percent. The nearest elementary school outside of Piru is San Cayetano,