One CUSD Teacher's View of the Oxford Academy

Capistrano Unified School District teacher Donna Smiggs made this address to the Board of Trustees at the February 8 board meeting. The issue of the charter schools pending before the district are serious, as officials estimate Oxford will cost the district $700,000.

Oxford did announce then that officials with that school will seek less expensive alternatives.

Smiggs' statement:

I am here today regarding the Oxford petition. My name is Donna Smiggs. I am a public school teacher with 15 years of experience teaching fifth graders at Castille who have varying abilities, learning styles, and cultural backgrounds. I am also a parent and a tax-paying citizen of the city of MIssion Viejo.

I was present at the December 7 board meeting and listened to every Oxford petitioner very carefully. I don't think Oxford's program is vastly different than CUSD's. Teacheres have been teaching using Howard Gardner's theory of mulitple intelligences for decades now. The theory is implemented within reason. Personally, one of my daughters is a kinesthetic learner.My living room is an empty room with hardwood floors, so that she can skate while she studies. I certainly don't expect the school system to alter the environment to meet her needs to this extent nor would I want it to. She needs to learn to adapt to all environments, especially those that require sitting at a desk. In addition, it troubles me to learn that CUSD stands to lose approximately $700,000 out of the general fund to implement something supposedly "different" than what we already offer.

I did leave this meeting feeling highly insulted and with some suspicions about the [student] recruiting process, so I did some research. I discovered they passed out fliers at a showing of Waiting for Superman. This seems as though they have a cause to champion. I am unlclear, however, as to why they are here at CUSD, a high performing district. I don't believe there is a cause to chamption here.

I then decided to do some field research and walk the neighborhood homes of the Chino Oxford site. I spoke with 21 families. Only one of these 21 families has a child attending the Chino site. All but five of these families speak Spanish as a second language or their only language. I do speak Spanish as my third language, albeit not fluently, but well enough to carry a conversation. when asked why their children don't attend the school down the street, I heard multiple times "Es privada. No es publica." (It's private, not public." Several families also thought it was a school for the wealthy and "smart" kids. One lady went to the school and inquired about admissions. She was told, "No one speaks Spanish here to help you." Several other families inquired as well, and they were told that if they could afford $200-$300 for uniforms and $20 per week for lunch/child or pack a lunch, they would be put on the waiting list. These families walked out. I had no idea that not having a free or reduced lunch would deter anyone from sending a child to a school within 100s of feet from their front door.

Should we be using taxpayers' dollars to segregate children from whatever reason? That which falls under the letter of the law may not necessarily be morally and ethically sound. Unfortunately, history is full of such examples. Let us not be part of yet another example.

 

Comments

[unions hurt students]

INSANE

union witch hunt has started, God forbid they, unions, do not control all of the money.....

[jollygirl]

What are you talking about uhs? Charter school teachers can and do below to unions.

[Nothing but the Truth]

Sounds a lot like the private elementary schools I attended for eight years. At least my struggling parents didn't insist that everyone else should pay for the private education of their four kids.

[Public School Supporter]

I have not read the Charter Petition from Oxford Academy, however the required elements for a charter petition should have been included. I have copied page 19 of a Manual for Governance Teams that was published by California School Boards Association. Additional information regarding charter schools and charter applications can be reviewed at CSBA.org.

The Superintendent and the Board of Trustees should be queried on whether or not the petition meets all state requirements, insluding those listed here.

Charter Schools | A Manual for Governance Teams 19
What are the required elements of a charter petition?
Complete charter petitions have four required parts: a petition/letter, the
proposed charter itself (including 16 required legal elements), a signature
page and required additional information. CSBA advises including a fifth
section containing recommended additional information.
Petition/letter
A petition to establish a charter can be circulated by any person
and, after meeting signature requirements (see page 26 for signature
requirements) submitted to the governing board for consideration.
CSBA recommends that a completed petition should include, at a
minimum, the following information and materials:
• The name, address and phone number of the petitioners, together
with a statement signed by them formally applying to the board
for approval of the charter school.
• Identification of lead petitioner or petitioners
• A thorough description of the education, work experience,
credentials, degrees and certifications of the individual persons
circulating the petition and comprising, or proposing to
comprise, the board of directors, administrators and managers of
the proposed charter school.
• The bylaws, articles of incorporation and other management
documents, as applicable, governing or proposed to govern the
charter school.
• A list of consultants whom the charter school has engaged, or
proposes to engage, for the purpose of developing, operating
and evaluating the charter school, together with a thorough
description of the experience of such consultants.
• A description of the number of students anticipated to attend
the charter school and the grade levels to be included for these
students for each year of operation in the charter term.
• An attorney’s opinion providing a thorough description of the
potential civil liability, if any, of the charter school and school district.
• Any and all policies that the charter school intends to implement,
including but not limited to employee handbooks, student
handbooks, health and safety policies, student discipline policies,
conflict of interest policies and admissions policies.
• A statement setting forth the administrative structure of
the school, including detailed job descriptions assigning
executive, budget, disciplinary, school district liaison, parent/
guardian contact, counseling, special education, maintenance,
research, personnel, employee evaluative functions and other
responsibilities.
• Documents identifying the facility in which the charter school
intends to locate, including all necessary permits, licenses, use
agreements and/or other authorization necessary for use and
occupation of the site in compliance with law.
• Any other information as specifically requested by the district
regarding the charter school petition subsequent to the
submission of the charter school petition.

[Alexis]

CUEA - the masters of soft tyranny.

[Shanroe]

I have a very hard time believing that Ms. Smiggs took a day off work to go to Chino and walk door to door asking residents about the school and their involvement with the school. Did my tax dollars pay for a sick day for her?

[Capo Parent Too]

Yes, because she couldn't have done this on the weekend.

[RIFfer]

I don't know Ms. Smiggs, but this never mentioned that she did this during school hours. She could have done this after school - it doesn't say that she went to the school, it says she went around the neighborhood where the school is located. She could have also done this on a weekend - again, she just mentioned talking to families, not going to the school when it was in session. The other thing that could have happened is our breaks in Capo are different than those in Chino. She could have gone on a day when we are not in session. Or third, she could have used one of the 2 personal days that teachers are allowed to take off each year. These are days that you are allowed to use at your own discretion, for whatever reason you choose.

[Shanroe]

You're right. Those senarios are believable. What is not too believable is a white woman walking around in a neighborhood she ackowledges as primarily spanish speakers knocking on doors, asking people random questions about the school in the neighborhood with no ID or official authority and getting people to answer her. I find that even harder to believe. Really? She took one of her weekend days or personal days to drive an hour to find out a proposed school for the good of all children in capo? hmmm something smells.

[Capo Parent Too]

Yes something smells, your cynicism. People actually do things for the good of others. Crazy I know.