Livermore’s Future Charter High School
The Livermore Valley Charter School (LVCS) is expected to open a new charter high school for the 2010-2011 school year. The new LVCS charter high school will provide students attending the LVCS K-8 school with an opportunity to remain in the same charter system. According to Bill Batchelor, COO of the Livermore Charter Learning Corporation, some of the benefits of a charter high school include:
- Smaller average class size and learning community;
- Tighter integration of technology and curiculum; and
- Increased collaboration between teachers.
How was Livermore able to establish a charter high school? Through five primary steps:
- Formed a founding group (5-10 parents and community leaders) and hired an administrative team to handle the details.
- Prepared a petition for the charter high school and obtained signatures from 50% of the parents with kids planning to attend the new school in the first year. LVCS will start with only the 9th grade and they expect 110 kids, so only 55 signatures were required.
- Secured the high school facility – Proposition 39 guarantees LVCS equal access to the facilities at Livermore and Granada High Schools until LVCS is able to open a dedicated facility.
- Hired teachers and registered students.
- Obtain approvals – while the Livermore School District and Alameda County Board of Education denied LVCS’s petition, the California State Board of Education is expected to provide their approval in July 2009.
Although charter schools receive about $700-$1,000/year less from the state for each student, they are able to overcome the funding gaps through fewer legacy costs and less administrative overhead. Parents and local companies also help support the charter schools through fundraising and volunteering efforts.
Please visit the Livermore Valley Charter School’s website or call 925-443-1690 for more information.
7:11 PM on July 8th, 2009
Wow, the artwork for Livermore Charter High School looks great. Livermore
used to have inferior high schools compared with Dublin. Now, they are
going to leap ahead of us. Too bad!!!
8:00 PM on July 8th, 2009
Hi Anonymous – that was just an illustration of a high school, not what Livermore’s charter high school will look like once they have their own facility.
Thx, John Z.
2:52 PM on July 11th, 2009
It’s good to know that the looks of a school is what determines how well it performs. I’m glad to see that sound reasoning is being used on what makes a good school
4:31 PM on July 9th, 2009
I believe a Charter High School would be good for Dublin. It allows parents and kids on both side of the city options. I don’t see it taking anything away from what Dublin High is trying to do. The two campuses could actually complement each other in putting a full circle around our potential student body and keep them from continually moving out.
12:14 AM on July 10th, 2009
I agree. It does not have to be east/west rivalry or division
as a lot of bloggers are trying to argue.
1:28 PM on July 12th, 2009
It is a great idea to start a Charter High School in Dubin. The Charter High School will fulfill the needs of many parents and students and it seems cost effective to start and operate.
For business sponsorship, maybe we should request support from Sybase, Taleo, PAMF, BART etc?
BTW, seems Dublin still has qute some of vacant office and retail spaces, with a lot fo class A properties. I think the city should help to attract successful businesses and high paying jobs here. In return, we can request the new businesses and commercial realtors to support the new Charter High School to give back to the commnity.
Dublin needs a new Charter High School and a thriving business community. It will benefit everyone in Dublin and even the whole tri-valley.
7:59 PM on July 12th, 2009
Hi CharterHS – you bring up an excellent point about the importance of business partnerships with the charter high school. Sponsorships are one of the most important aspects of the partnership.
Thx, John Z.
10:00 PM on July 18th, 2009
Hi, John, the vacant retail/office properties provide valuable opporutunities for Dublin to attract desirable businesses. These incoming businesses can be very important to our Charter High School, just as the existing businesses. For example, our residents who are employed by Sybase, Taleo etc can be the strongest force to pursuade their employers to support our coming Charter High School.
9:21 AM on July 13th, 2009
In order to have some kind of high school on the east side you people want to take away much needed donations for our schools from the business community. Haven’t you heard about the budget crisis? Don’t you even care how siphoning off scarce resources will hurt the K-8 schools, the very schols we need to support so they become better ready for high school?
John B. Ledahl
Trustee, DUSD
11:24 AM on July 13th, 2009
Any partnership between private and public sector in regards to our educational system would be a plus for all. Yes with current economic conditions any funds, private or public will be scarce. But we are talking 5-10 years from now and I sure hope we are not in the same economic conditions in 5-10 years as we are today. If Dublin can attract fortune 500 companies in the numbers that San Ramon, Walnut Creek or Pleasanton can than we should have sufficient partners to work with when the economy is back on its feet. It would be a win for Dublin Residences, options for schooling K-12, more high paying jobs which would benefit not only Dublin but the entire region. With a highly regards school system, Companies locating here can use it as a valuable tool to recruit top talent and families. We have the abundance of homes, parks and retail but our school system overall is not quite at the highly regarded level yet. I know the District and Parents have worked hard and are working hard to get our District to that level, a quality Charter High School will just add to what they are doing to build up the reputation of our school system here in Dublin. A Charter School won’t take as much away from the other Dublin Schools including Dublin High as a second Public High School would.
Parents that are able and are willing to send their kids to the Charter School will certainly be part of the financial puzzle that make a Charter School work in complement, not against the existing public schools.
1:59 PM on July 13th, 2009
I agree. What is the Mayor of Dublin doing these days?
4:40 PM on July 13th, 2009
Dublin High supporters have been extremely defensive when any talks of a second High School came up, it became a West vs East thing, who’s kids are smarter etc… You can feel a sense of insecurity amongts the defenders of Dublin High. The argument for my family though for a second high school was not about any of that, it was about the distance of travel to get to Dublin High for someone living in Dublin Ranch. With the opening of Windemere Parkway off Tassajara, it actually became easier (less traffic) to get to Dougherty Valley HS than to Dublin High. Unfortunately though as some have taken to attacking Dublin High for the lack of recognition and achievement in the academic world. I believe it is unfair as I know the Dublin High community have been working very hard to shed past image and to get to the next level, it will take time as Mission San Jose High didn’t gain their lofty ranking overnight either. With a fair amount of time I believe Dublin High will one day become a highly regarded public high school that all of Dublin can be proud of. I believe it is headed in the right direction.
With that said I truly believe a Charter High School in Dublin will only help complement Dublin High, adding to the reputation of our School System in Dublin. A Charter High School is not about West vs East, it is about providing a second option for Parents and Families throughout Dublin while not taking away a big chunk of funds from the other District operated schools. A healthy partnership between the Charter School Operator, Parents, The Private Sector and Dublin Unified can make it work without becoming a financial burden on the district like a second public high school might.
If you ask us to open up our minds about the potentials of Dublin High and that it is indeed headed in the right direction. We ask for the same of you to open up your mind about a complimentary Charter High School to allow for options within Dublin. Thus maybe plugging a gaping hole that is leaking student bodies to other districts.
Imagine one day Dublin having two top 100 high schools, one a Public and the second a Charter School. Homes in Dublin would suddenly become sought after, pushing our home values to comparable levels of all our neighbors and maybe even exceed. Large companies would also look to locate here as a top school system with an abundance of reasonably priced homes (compared to the peninsula/south bay)would be a great recruiting tool.
5:37 PM on July 13th, 2009
Well said. This is a pretty good argument for a Charter High School to complement the DHS. I am not getting my hope that high to have two top 100 public high schools, though. I would be happy to have two Silver Medal schools:-)
9:41 AM on July 14th, 2009
Here’s an news article about the Livermore Charter School
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_12828498
10:06 AM on July 14th, 2009
Thanks for the link, Anonymous, we will add this article to our growing list of resources about charter schools in general. The Around Dublin Team continues to be amazed by what a handful of parents and community leaders with a focused goal can accomplish in such a short amount of time. In a city of just over 80,000 people, what these 5-10 people accomplished is inspirational and impressive.
9:48 AM on July 14th, 2009
I don’t think commute is a valid reason for an East HS. Parents who complain about the drive to DHS are not putting their kids education first. API should be the main reason for a Charter School, located either the East or West.
1:32 PM on July 14th, 2009
Let’s first try to fix the problems of low API scores at DHS; bulding a new school will not solve this. It’s about committed parents, dedicated teachers, and a strong unified school board to help raise API scores. DHS itself is making improvements with newer facilities and equipment. It is not DHS fault that the state’s educational budget is cut each year, thus having less overhead budget to run on.
We really need to get to the core of the problem first, not just build a new school.
12:40 PM on July 15th, 2009
The commute reason is a valid reason as parents who typically would be more involved with their kid’s education are continually moving out of Dublin to neighborhoods where the High School is not 25 minutes away. Both Dublin Blvd. and 580 are congested. Not to say that a Parent living next to Dublin High does not care about their kid’s education as I am sure they care just as much, it is just that we are losing too many of the same caring parents in the East due to location.
8:36 PM on September 20th, 2009
Regarding distant – I drive my child to Dublin High every morning from East Dublin. 10-12 minute commute. Non issue.
Regarding people fleeing East Dublin – provide some data to back that up. New homes are being built and enrolment is up. Tassajara Prep, in fact, touts Dublin as the fastest growing part of the Bay area.
So if everyone is leaving why is there a big opportunity for a charter school?
Doesn’t add up because people aren’t – in the aggregate – leaving. We have a growth district with excellent schools that are getting better (Dublin High in particular made a big jump this year).
9:20 PM on September 20th, 2009
I still don’t understand. What’s the big deal with a school bus system for DHS? Im sure parents would be even willing to pay to avoid the daily commute to school. Its already painful enough to commute to work.
There will be 1000-2000 more homes in the next few years in East Dublin, taking Dublin boulevard with its serie of synchronized red lights will become a nightmare, at least school buses would reduce traffic and the burden on the parents?
11:32 PM on September 20th, 2009
There already is a Wheels provided bus route the makes a few stops in East Dublin before going directly to the high school (without stopping at the BART / transit center). We by bulk bus tickets for her. The bus stop is about 2 minutes from our house – the main reason my daughter gets a drive to school with me most days is because it is on my way to work (meaning on my way to 680 South). From Dublin Ranch (meaning East Dublin) it takes me about 10-12 minutes with no traffic issues or congestion dropping off at Dublin High. Not really sure where the traffic myths come from – haven’t had a problem since school started a month ago.
The existing bus option works well and is used by many students in Dublin Ranch.
Wheels can add more capacity if needed as more houses are added. Doubtful a free option will appear (given the budget constraints) but Wheels is not expensive and for families needing financial help there are likely government programs to offset the cost.
7:06 AM on September 21st, 2009
Anonymous @ 8:36 on 9/20 wrote:
“Regarding people fleeing East Dublin – provide some data to back that up. New homes are being built and enrolment is up. Tassajara Prep, in fact, touts Dublin as the fastest growing part of the Bay area.
So if everyone is leaving why is there a big opportunity for a charter school?”
I don’t see information published, but I have 3 friends who have sold their homes and moved to San Ramon so their kids can go to high school. Enrollment at the elementary and middle schools are going up because Dublin is affordable. We know there are awesome elementary and middle schools in Dublin. It’s at the HS level that it is being questioned (though there’s no doubt that it’s improving).
The charter school continues to be a big opportunity because there’s a significant demand for it, plain and simple. It’s not that a charter school is a solution; however this is an opportunity for the community to take matters into their own hands and not wait for DUSD to provide a school that will meet the needs and desires of people east of Dougherty.
Not everyone has the luxury of dropping off their kids to school on their way to work. Many of us have to get going by 6:30 or 7:00 to get to work. Public transportation could be an option, and I’ll admit that I have not looked into that, but I’d personally prefer if my children can walk to ride their bikes.
7:51 AM on September 21st, 2009
Data point on the commute – left my Dublin Ranch house with my daughter this morning at 7:28AM – dropped her off in front of DHS at 7:38AM – there was no traffic. 10 minutes. She takes the Wheels DHS bus to/from sometomes – stops about a block from our house in Dublin Ranch. Commute has been a non-issue since my daughter started at DHS. Writing this on my smartphone btw.
Re: DHS being questioned – I ask these questions:
- have you met with the principal of DHS to express your concerns? Have you ever met with the DUSD superintendent to exprress your concerns?
- what is DHS’ line-up of AP classes and what are the gaps?
- what was DHS API last year and based on the current upward trend what do your think DHS’ API will be in 1 year? In 3?
- what universities accepted DHS graduates last year?
- when will the $120M rebuild of DHS be complete? What is the current phase? What is in the next two phases?
- did you attend the recent school board meeting regarding an Advanced Diploma option at DHS?
- have you spoken to parents of DHS students and rec’d first hand feedback on DHS? (call me at 408-394-6867 anytime)
I challenge anyone who questions the quality of DHS to do so with credibility after doing what I’ve done above. My kids are straight A students who aspire to attend top universities and I have chosen to stay in Dublin and shine a light on how good Dublin High is. The myths about Dublin High on the east side are fear-based – not fact based – and undermine our city.
9:02 AM on July 16th, 2009
A Charter School is not the answer…nor is a second high school that could never be funded.
Walt Gardner in his article in the SF Chronicle stated that when Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman wrote in 1955 that the best way to improve schools was to empower parents, he planted the seed of what has grown into the charter school movement. Intuitively, this premise makes sense, because surely parents choose schools because of the quality of the curriculum and instruction.
Evidence, however, suggests otherwise. In May, a study of academic quality found that just because parents are happy with a school does not necessarily mean their children are achieving much.
It is interesting that data, evidence, and reality never seem to change peoples minds. This is a phenomenon called cognitive dissonance. This means, basically, once one makes a decision or choice, they resist all data that may call into question the decision they have made.
Even knowing this, let me take a shot.
In June, Stanford’s Center for Research on Educational Outcomes announced it found nearly half of charter schools nationwide posted NO different results than the local public school. While 17 percent provided superior opportunities, a whopping 37 percent delivered results significantly worse!
So, parents, we should have a choice…but be careful what and why we choose.
9:34 AM on July 16th, 2009
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Anonymous. The depth of knowledge you have shown on the subject of education is remarkable. You are absolutely right. Parents and concerned residents who visit this website must “be careful” in what they choose. Would you mind including links or bibliographical references to the two studies you cited, especially for the May study on cognitive dissonance. Knowing how the studies were conducted, what the underlying assumptions are, and who funded the projects are all critical to a holistic evaluation of any academic research. Thank you for your help.
10:04 PM on July 19th, 2009
To Anonymous 9:02 AM on July 16th, 2009
Yours is the first comment I have seen on the desire for a Charter HS on this blog that was founded in unbiased thought. Your research mirrors what I have seen in studies out of other academic institutions. It basically shows that the one thing that empowers a student more than anything else is a set of parents or parent who guides, supports, and manages their children toward good study habits and academic achievement. All a school can ultimately provide is a place and set of resources (well trained teachers, proper materials, technology, opportunities, etc.)that facilitates learning experiences. I believe we are doing that well and getting better every day.
I have been fighting my own cognitive dissonance regarding a second high school or charter HS in the East. Intuitively I feel we should focus all our finite resources on improving K-12 learning in order to meet our new graduation requirements (higher than San Ramon, Pleasanton, etc.). To me this is what will make Dubin High a great school. I still struggle with entertaining new visions outside this focus as I see our funding shrink daily. This shortfall is not expected to go away in a couple of years as some think. To be sure how we govern in this state will soon go through massive changes. I will be sharing more on this soon.
Having said this, I still recently asked staff for new analysis of our 15 year growth projections to underscore our current direction. I have always been open to the concept of a Charter school and will listen to any sound concept within reason. Yet I still fight my own “cognitive dissonance” in the face of these challenges mentioned above.
John B. Ledahl
DUSD
9:24 AM on July 20th, 2009
Does anyone know the difference in population between the East and West? If any divisive vote ever came about, it would be nice to know if the East can win.
9:38 AM on August 7th, 2009
This site is quite boring without the East vs. West rivalry. Can we start that up again?
12:21 AM on August 8th, 2009
Or you could just move away and let the rest of us work together in harmony.
John B. Ledahl
Trustee, DUSD