SYHS fears insolvency over payments to Olive Grove Charter School
A decision by the California Department of Education apparently requires the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District to pay more than $700,000 this year to help operate Olive Grove Charter School, which high school district officials say they can’t afford.
“This decision by the Department of Education could be crippling, and the ripple effects will be massive. We are already facing a $750,000 structural deficit this year, so adding an additional $700,000 with potentially more in the coming years will ruin us,” SYHVUHS Superintendent Scott Cory said.
Cory will present an agenda item about the in-lieu property tax payments to Olive Grove during the high school board’s meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Also on the agenda is appointing a fifth board member.
The high school district twice denied a petition from Olive Grove to operate a charter school within its boundaries, but Olive Grove’s appeal to the California Department of Education (CDE) was approved in July.
That makes Santa Ynez a “sponsoring district” for Olive Grove and, although SYHS will have no supervisory role, it will be required to help pay for the charter school.
Because Olive Grove also has campuses in Lompoc, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and New Cuyama, those districts will be required to pay support to the charter school as well.
According to the latest estimates, Santa Ynez owes $350,942 to the charter school immediately, and Olive Grove officials project a total of between $1 million and $1.2 million for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Those numbers are subject to change when the CONTINUE READING: SYHS fears insolvency over payments to Olive Grove Charter School - Santa Ynez Valley Star
