In a surprising decision by the California Board of Education, the petition to transition Piru Elementary School to a charter school has been denied. The Board determined the charter plan had an insufficient probability of being successful.

Curiously, in stating their decision, the Board admonished those who testified against the petition, for lying. It also concluded that more residents of Piru opposed the charter because more opponents drove to Sacramento to express their opposition. In every other respect the charter petition was valid and complete. Observers are left to believe that if more proponents of the charter had driven to Sacramento the result would have been different.

In the view of the Fillmore Gazette, this decision of the State Board of Education displays remarkable weakness and lack of character on the part of certain Board members. The community of Piru has just had a golden opportunity stolen from them.