All around town, people are asking, “So what happened to the Piru Charter Plan? Is it over? Is it gone?” The answer is no. The Piru Charter Petition is just where the petitioners expected it to be…awaiting review by the California Advisory Commission on Charter Schools, before heading to the State Board of Education for the authorization process. The Petition will be heard on April 6 before the Advisory Commission, and in May before the State Board of Education.

Will it be authorized? The petitioners do not know. What they do know is that all nine petitioners and former Principal Richard Durborow, working with dedicated parents and community members, have given their best this year to create a school that will make life better for the children of Piru and the surrounding areas. The Piru Charter Plan offers the community smaller class sizes for their children, local control of elementary learning, and an opportunity to have one of the most beautiful and highest achieving schools in Ventura County. Many in Piru hope the state chooses to authorize it!

There is a flier going around Piru that states neither the Fillmore School Board or the Ventura County Board of Education thought the plan educationally sound or capable of succeeding. These are only excuses. In truth, the denials have been about adults and money and control, not about what is best for children. A few of the teachers at Piru School did not want to put their careers at risk, and, working behind the scenes with District administrators, they spread misinformation about what a charter school could be. Because the charter offered so much to kids, their only plausible anti chant to the community could be “They didn’t involve you,” ignoring the fact that everyone could have been involved this year.

The Fillmore Unified School District gains more money from Piru students than they spend at Piru. This should be obvious from a playground riddled with holes, leaking rooms, and a district office with a superintendent, three assistant superintendents, three directors, and numerous other personnel, all for a district that has fewer total students than a large high school. Instead of taking the chance to authorize Piru Charter School, The Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) held a hearing that invited people to “share their feelings,” knowing that if facts were highlighted, the hearing would weigh heavily in favor of the Charter Proposal. Given the chance to embrace innovation at their most struggling school, FUSD chose to turn away 3% of the charter budget simply to supervise the project, as well as almost $100,000 in back office fees that another school district in Ventura County may now gain. By offering staff a three year window of return, FUSD could have avoided the staff anxiety to try a new plan and kept every single one of their outstanding Special Education teachers employed with the students they know. In a time of budget crises, FUSD had the chance to not only embrace choice and innovation, but make certain limited tax dollars would best serve students. They might have lost few dollars, and gained innovation. If the District is able to stop the charter, not only will little improve in Piru, but facilities will continue to deteriorate and larger class sizes will make learning more challenging for this small school, while the District cuts the school year by a week..

When a county Migrant official visited Piru and told parents that migrant funds would not be awarded to a charter school, he erred. Charter Schools are public schools and may receive all federal funding, the same as any other public school. They may apply for afterschool programs. They have bussing and participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. All this was easy to verify with phone calls. Rather than embracing a choice of district schools or Piru Charter School for their children, it is unfortunate that some parents continue to listen to district officials whose positions use up the migrant funds that could better serve students. Piru Charter School would offer all current students the choice of attending a school in Piru as long as they wish. If the District stops the charter, Rancho Sespe students will be assigned to Rio Vista School only, as soon as that school opens. The greatest frustration the charter petitioners have faced this year is the interference by District employees to prevent them from communicating with some of the migrant parents whose children they have taught for years and show them the possibilities charter schooling offers them.

As the first conversion charter school, Piru Charter School also posed a threat to the County Board of Education. If little Piru Elementary School changed into Piru Charter School and succeeded, which other struggling county schools in Oxnard, Port Hueneme, the Avenue and Oak View might follow? They had to find a reason to turn this charter away. Endorsing Start Up charter schools in wealthy neighborhoods is fashionable. Giving a chance to show that the charter organization can better serve the disadvantaged students it was designed for, could create district chaos to their system. The loss of control to the county should not stand in the way of the chance to offer the kind of success that has swept Los Angeles which now boasts over 120 charter schools, where 9% of a ll students attend those charter schools. Several Piru parents visited Fenton Charter School in Lake View Terrace and marveled at first-rate facilities, small classes, and well informed, happy students. With parent endorsement, leaders of Fenton School have been chosen to mentor Piru Charter School. Fenton officials hope the state authorizes Piru Charter School, because they know the life changes that charter schools can provide, and hope to open up the eyes of those in Ventura County as to what loss of county control can bring…unparalleled education and life success!

The Piru Charter School petitioners meet monthly and are pleased that their ranks have continued to grow. As was noted at the county hearing, more parents there spoke up to support the charter than to voice opposition. A new parent advisory group has been formed and the largest contingent of parents at the recent Charter Schools Association Conference in Sacramento was from Piru Charter School!
All parents or community members wishing to become involved or write letters of support to the State Board of Education can contact Piru Charter School at P.O. Box 555, Piru California 93040, call 805 428-9473, or email at pirucharterschool@earthlink.net The Piru Charter School Petition is still in motion and all are welcomed to join this exciting opportunity for children!