Tension was high among employees of the San Bernardino City Unified School District on Wednesday, a day after trustees voted to overhaul 11 struggling schools and increase scrutiny of teachers.

By dramatically overhauling the schools in time for the coming school year, the San Bernardino City Unified School District becomes eligible for up to $22million in state money to improve the campuses.

But while many local educators supported the plan to turn six of the campuses into district-sponsored charter schools and replace half the teaching staffs at the other five, many expressed fear and misgivings about the future.

"It's a different world right now, with a lot of uncertainties and questions, and that makes teachers nervous and apprehensive," said Rebecca Harper, president of the San Bernardino Teachers Association.

At its regular meeting, the school board decided to turn Pacific High School, Shandin Hills Middle School and Rio Vista, Wilson, Davidson and Hunt elementary schools into district charters.

Components of this include financial management by the district, starting new in the program improvement cycle and creating an executive board for the charter.

According to the California Department of Education, the schools will be expected to open under the new