New Public High School Planned for Dublin
“Tassajara Prep” Aims to Meet Highest Academic Standards for Diverse, Rapidly Growing Population, Emphasizing Parental Involvement, State-of-the-Art Technologies and a Preeminent Curriculum
Dublin Learning Corporation today announced plans to open Tassajara Preparatory High School, an independently-operated, fully credentialed public educational institution to meet the needs of the increasingly diverse and rapidly expanding population in Dublin, California. Tassajara Prep will be designed to offer a unique, challenging educational program reflecting the highest academic and civic standards, providing students with the foundation for future success in top university programs.
Scheduled to open in August 2012, Tassajara Prep aims to offer the advantages of a private education at a tuition-free, public school. With the goal of delivering an ideal combination of rigorous curricula and innovative teaching practices from leading instructors, Tassajara Prep will emphasize parent and community involvement, a collaborative, student-focused learning environment, an expanded choice of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and extracurricular enrichment programs, and the integration of state-of-the-art teaching and learning technologies.
As the fastest growing city in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a population expected to expand more than 69 percent, adding 34,600 and reaching more than 81,000 residents in the next 25 years [1], the citizens and businesses of Dublin will benefit significantly from the addition of a second, high-caliber high school.
“Tassajara Prep was established to offer all Dublin parents a new choice,” said Rully Kusuma, president of Dublin Learning Corporation. “It will provide the best possible academic program to help all of our students prepare for life beyond high school. In addition, while we may initially utilize a shared-use Proposition 39 facility in one of the DUSD buildings, our long term vision is to offer our families in Dublin the cohesive sense of community that a neighborhood high school brings, while eliminating the need for thousands of daily cross-town car trips to the only high school currently available, which is on the west side of town. It’s a truly win-win-win situation for our students, parents and the city of Dublin.”
Tassajara Prep is expected to provide the following benefits to students, parents and the Dublin community:
- A leading-edge learning track system to prepare students for university studies
- A high level of parent participation and influence
- A fully-credentialed faculty, performance-based pay and annual merit bonuses for teachers
- An emphasis on social responsibility through partnerships with Tri-Valley charitable organizations
- Eco-friendly facilities that celebrate Dublin’s commitment to greener living and learning
Dublin Learning Corporation officially announced its plans for Tassajara Preparatory High School at the Dublin City Council meeting on Sept. 15, 2009. Parents, educators, community members, and local business and government leaders interested in getting involved are encouraged to attend the following public events:
- Tassajara Prep education booth at Dublin’s Day on The Glen festival – Sept. 19-20, 2009
- Town hall meeting #1 – Dublin Library Community Room – Oct. 20, 2009, 7pm
- Town hall meeting #2 – Dublin Civic Center, Regional Meeting Room – Oct. 27, 2009, 7pm
- Town hall meeting #3 – Dublin Library Community Room – Nov. 3, 2009, 7pm
About Dublin Learning Corporation (DLC)
Dublin Learning Corporation is a non-profit organization committed to improving the Dublin community by providing expanded educational options for families. More information about DLC and Tassajara Prep is available at www.tassajaraprep.org.
[1] Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG); “Projections and Priorities 2009: Building Momentum;” http://www.abag.ca.gov/
12:09 AM on September 16th, 2009
yahoo! this is best news I heard in a very long time. thank you to who ever is doing this. now i am so glad we moved to dublin ranch.
12:24 AM on September 16th, 2009
Wow! This is huge news. Thank you to around dublin for breaking the news. We needed a college prep school like this to challenge our students.
12:51 AM on September 16th, 2009
A lot of you in east Dublin probably think those of us in Old Dublin will be upset about a second high school. I’m not mad, so if you’re trying to p*** me off, it’s not working. Actually I like the idea of a college prep high school in Dublin. I would probably send my sons to the school if it ever actually got built, except my boys will be done with high school in three years. I would like them to be surrounded by other kids all motivated to excel in school and get into good colleges. I wish I’d gone to a school like that. Dublin High School is a good school, and a ton of money is being spent to make it even better, and my boys are happy there, but there are a lot of kids that are not working hard for college and I think that rubs off on others. Competition is a good thing. Positive peer pressure is a good thing.
1:23 AM on September 16th, 2009
Uh, didn’t we hear about this in your past postings and it nearly became a shouting match between Anonymous commentors? But you guys have the website available now so it must be true. This is fabulous news. Will it be a public high school? Where is it going to be geographically? Details please.
5:48 AM on September 16th, 2009
More details here:
http://www.tassajaraprep.org/faq/
This is exciting, but I don’t see any concrete plans for where this school will actually be, so I’m skeptical. I’m sure the Dublin City Council will support this 100%, but I don’t see where we have available land where this school would be.
7:05 AM on September 16th, 2009
TO the parents and people who are behind Dublin Learning Corporation…THANK YOU!!! Your hard work and dedication in seeing this through will be your legacy to be enjoyed by the many young people of Dublin. What a gift to our city!!!
7:18 AM on September 16th, 2009
Our son is one year old and we plan to have 2 more kids. We were just talking about where we’d likely move in 10 years or so, since the idea of driving from Dublin Ranch all the way across town to DHS was just not something we wanted to be doing (and in 10 years, the traffic across town will likely be worse). This news seriously changes all our plans of having to move out of Dublin…
Now, if Dublin could only make some new housing developments that are in the $2M+ (like Blackhawk, Ruby Hill, etc) that would be even better. It seems that Dublin has a current Max home price in the $1-$1.5 mil range and those seem to be planned homes (not fully custom homes). That’s something we hope to have on our radar in the next 5-10 years and I’d be great to now have to move if Dublin could provide some custom home development in the East Dublin area.–
5:29 PM on September 16th, 2009
In these days of economic crash, housing crash and 10% unemployment, I don’t think 2M+ estates are a priority for anyone but a tiny minority of the population. Good schools and hospitals are a priority though. There is such a plan for custom mansions in Pleasanton and there’s already lawsuits against it.
5:40 PM on September 16th, 2009
It may not be a priority now, but by not building larger homes, Dublin is not keeping its residents here long-term. People tend to move from smaller to larger homes as their families and salaries increase… until they retire. So many families that buy their first condo, town home, or small home in Dublin will likely leave for something bigger San Ramon or Pleasanton. Dublin should be interested in retaining people over a lifetime.
7:53 AM on September 16th, 2009
Any word on where this new school will be built? The FAQ doesn’t mention this.
8:15 AM on September 16th, 2009
This is huge news and is great for Dublin.
How has the School Board and City Council supported this? The City should have been involved due to the business licensing and zoning – whether they support it or not remains to be seen since all they’ve probably done is review documentation and collect fees.
The School Board, on the other hand, have not supported another high school. What other space does DUSD have available to support high school classrooms by this time next year in Eastern Dublin? The president of DLC made reference to possibly using shared space as their path to opening the school next Fall.
9:32 AM on September 16th, 2009
This is pretty interesting news indeed. I look forward to talking to their team at the booth this weekend at Day On The Glen. Most notably, I really am interested to see how much of a funded plan this is versus a concept or idea. I’m sure they could get land east of Hacienda given the economic glut, but the funding to startup a labor-intensive business like a school is what I’m hoping thye have locked in.
Also – is the title on this correct as a “public” high school. I’m guessing that’s just a typo since this looks like a private school based on the FAQs, or am I missing something?
10:17 AM on September 16th, 2009
Anonymous @ 9:32 -
Tassajara Prep would be a Charter school, and is public. On Wikipedia:
“Charter schools are elementary or secondary schools in the United States that receive public money but have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school’s charter.[1]
While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition.”
The direct link to the Wikipedia content is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_school.
10:06 AM on September 16th, 2009
Where exactly would this high school go in east Dublin? There are no vacant schools in the east and all schools are operating at full capacity. I’m not clear on the shared used facility as it’s presented in their materials. Also, if they plan to build a school have they purchased land and is it enough to accomodate the classrooms, fields, football stadiums etc? Or is this a school only for academics? It sounds interesting but is it really feasible?
10:25 AM on September 16th, 2009
If this is a prep school, i’d guess that it’s academic only – so that would make the facilities a lot simpler. Per the FAQ, moving into an existing facility probably means the elementary school facility that closed last year – that would make sense. Heck, they could probably even take over a floor in an empty office building in the short term since we have a few of those on Hacienda Blvd. The FAQ mentioned 1200 students which seems pretty far out there as a population. I dont know how many students Dublin High has, but 1200 seems like the whole population of Dublin High! In any case, start small and build from there.
Again – really intriguing idea, but looking forward to hearing specifics on how far along the idea is, most notably if the school board is supporting this.
I got the GATE announcement this morning about the API scores being published yesterday. It was GREAT to see the big jumps in a few of our Dublin schools, especially the huge jump in Dublin High’s score. Maybe the idea of a more acedemic school will be the catalyst to push DHS even higher.
11:25 AM on September 16th, 2009
>> The FAQ mentioned 1200 students which seems pretty far out there as a population.
That does sound like a lot, but I just looked up the 2009 API scores for the schools in east Dublin and the reports include student populations at each school, which are -
Fallon – 701
Green – 344
Dougherty – 385
That’s 1430 kids in K-8, or an average of 159 per grade, so the high school would have 636 students if was running today, not to mention all the kids from the thousands of new homes left to be built in east Dublin, plus west Dublin kids that want to attend a college prep school. I just know that a lot more families will want to move to east Dublin if they don’t have to drive clear across the city to Dublin HS. So 1200 students sounds reasonable to me in the long run.
Check out the API scores for the east side schools:
Fallon – 900
Green – 925
Dougherty – 943
Imagine how this new high school will perform based on the schools feeding it! God bless whoever is responsible for this new school.
12:50 PM on September 16th, 2009
The numbers for Green and Dougherty are not correct. Both schools are at or near 700 students.
1:13 PM on September 16th, 2009
Mark wrote:
“I just looked up the 2009 API scores for the schools in east Dublin and the reports include student populations at each school, which are -
Fallon – 701
Green – 344
Dougherty – 385″
These populations are grossly understated. Perhaps these numbers represent the population of students tested (which leads to the establishment a school API.)
Fallon is over 1000 students, and both Green and Dougherty are near or over 700 students.
I’m curious to know what contributed to Wells’ API score – that appears to be out of character for such a strong school with great students and teachers.
1:39 PM on September 16th, 2009
>> These populations are grossly understated.
Thanks for pointing out my incorrect numbers. You’re right, I was misled by the student populations shown in the API reports. I guess only certain grades take the tests. I wonder if the actual populations for each school are published somewhere?
So if Fallon has 1000 students today, and Green and Dougherty have 700 each, that’s a total of 2400 kids in K-8 on in east Dublin, an average of 267 per grade. If Tassajara Prep were in business today, it could theoretically have 1068 students, so 1200 sounds completely reasonable in a few years, especially if you consider the thousands more homes to be built in east Dublin and the additional families with kids that will be attracted by a high quality high school in the neighborhood. Actually, 1200 may not be enough and it may have to turn away a lot of students, just like at Dougherty Valley HS in San Ramon. I hope they have plans for future expansion. My daughter will be ready to go there in seven years, and my son in ten years. Is there a sign-up sheet to get our kids on the waiting list? I’d like to get on the list now, before all the new homes are built, to make sure my kids get in.
10:34 PM on September 16th, 2009
Anonymous @ 10:25AM wrote:
“Per the FAQ, moving into an existing facility probably means the elementary school facility that closed last year – that would make sense.”
I live in Dublin Ranch, and this does and does not make sense.
Yes, DUSD needs to provide facilities, and property/land that the district owns is ideal as a temporary solution. The Charter school could get started….
…HOWEVER…
Neilsen is even further West than Dublin High. If parents are already having issue with driving to Dublin High, there will be more issues with using this site. Will parents drive further across town for 4-5 years for a charter school?
10:13 AM on September 16th, 2009
I’m interested to know who are the Board Members of Tassajara Prep. I have looked on their web site and it only lists 5 out of 7 have been selected. I would like to see the profiles of the Board Members since it appears in their information that they are Dublin based. Just curious.
6:12 PM on September 20th, 2009
Interestingly… none of the people I spoke to at the Day on the Glen booth had children in Dublin schools. One of the reps was a charter school developer from Livermore. Suspicious?
6:39 PM on September 20th, 2009
I don’t see that as suspicious whatsoever. The school developer in Livermore is working with the Tassajara Prep folks to get things moving in Dublin.
Looking at it another way, if the folks in the booth have no kids in Dublin schools, they’re supporting Tassajara Prep because they care to see Dublin have a choice of high schools.
The alternative view is they’re a bunch of businessmen who want to make a buck off of Dublin. I highly doubt this given the current economic climate.
12:02 AM on September 21st, 2009
Check out the link on the Dublin Learning Corp’s website re: investor interest in charter schools (here’s the link: http://www.tassajaraprep.org/2009/09/charter-schools-draw-interest-from-private-investors/). Whether it is good or bad – you can decide for yourself – there is money being made on charter schools.
My question for the Livermore Charter School group is this – wasn’t answered in person – are they donating their time or getting paid to run a Dublin charter school. Perhaps they are very generous with their time but I doubt it – the COO of Livermore Charter School (Bill Batchelor) introduced himself to me as a businessman – not an educator.
To Bud – here is the issue that has me motivated – the primary target for Tassajara Prep’s temporary location is Fallon. It is the only option in East Dublin – there isn’t any other building to house a temporary school. The Tassajara Prep representatives claimed at Day on the Glen that they had not considered Fallon. The person who runs this blog (who was also working the Tassajara Prep both at Day on the Glen) made that claim yet he has promoted Fallon as a high school in an earlier blog article! Here is the direct quote from John Zukoski in that article: “Convert the facilities at Fallon Middle School to support high school students (perhaps renaming the school to Fallon High School)” (http://www.arounddublinblog.com/2008/05/opening-high-school-in-east-dublin-how/).
If a charter school really makes sense for Dublin then the leaders of this initiative will have to answer a lot of tough questions. Charter schools impact the entire district and to claim otherwise is to ignore the implications of Prop 39 (here is a perspective from charter school proponents http://www.cacharterschools.org/pdf_files/Proposition_39_Facilities_Fees.pdf).
There is no such thing as a free lunch – Tassajara Prep has the potential to disrupt in a very negative way middle school students at Fallon. Parents with elementary school age children in East Dublin should pay very close attention to this issue.
7:01 PM on September 20th, 2009
You’re right, that is very suspicious. Why are people with no children currently in Dublin schools working so hard to improve public education in our city? There’s absolutely no good reason for that. Bringing in an outsider from Livermore makes me even more suspicious. Outside agitators have no place in Dublin. What’s next – rationing education? Or maybe death panels? I think Dublin Learning Corporation is planning to kill grandma.
1:14 PM on September 16th, 2009
Congrats to Dublin Learning Corp for getting this started. I was surfing their website to find out more information on their programs, and plans, and it looks like they have a good vision.
I saw on their website that they have a 5 person board. I see Rully Kusuma’s name on there as their presidnet. Does anyone know who else is on their board?
1:38 PM on September 16th, 2009
Does anyone know how charter schools typically identify its students? Is it performance based, geography based, is there an application process, etc.?
2:01 PM on September 16th, 2009
The charter school in Livermore is open to any student in Livermore, or even from other cities, so I hope Tassajara Prep will be the same. We live in Tracy, but we’ve been looking at new homes in Livermore. The elementary school in the neighborhood we were looking at is a good school, but the middle school is pretty bad. Everyone raves about the charter school, but it is full and it has a long waiting list, so we don’t think our son or daughter would be able to get in by the time they reached middle school, so we have been looking in Dublin, Pleasanton and San Ramon instead. We can’t really afford a decent home in San Ramon or Pleasanton. There are nice little homes in the Dublin Ranch area that we can qualify for, but we were very disappointed when we found out the high school is on the other side of Dublin. We didn’t know what we were going to do, maybe stay in Tracy, but now that we’ve seen the announcement for Tassajara Prep, we are much more excited about buying in Dublin Ranch. Luckily our kids are a lot of years away from high school, so hopefully the new school will be running smoothly by then. This is very exciting news!
2:41 PM on September 16th, 2009
Ha, I find this whole thing so laughable. If all you snobs on the eastside think that a little group of parents that barely speak English are going to start a high school like Dublin High, you are dreaming. You need to find all the land, you have to buy the land, how will you find teachers, it costs tens of millions to build a school, it takes millions every year to run the school, and what do you know about running a school? This is just another whiny attempt to complain that you deserve your own special high school, away from all the unacceptable kids in the real Dublin. When will you learn that it’s never gonna happen, there aren’t enough kids for two high schools, it will soon die out and we can all go back to dealing with real issues like school budget cuts. This is just another hoax about a very silly thing that will never happen.
3:06 PM on September 16th, 2009
Seriously??? You know what you are??? You are probably an old, white, geezer who has nothing better to do than bitch about change. If you hate it so much than why don’t you find a town more to your liking, like in Kansas or Ohio because I bet they don’t have much change going on there! You are ignorant and it shocks me that you can talk about people and kid’s parents that way. Who cares if they don’t speak as much as English as you! What matters is that our kids are getting the best education and if you can’t see that, then I don’t want to be in the same city as you! GET OUT!!!!
4:51 PM on September 16th, 2009
zhe ge bai ren jian shen me? ta hen ben!
5:22 PM on September 16th, 2009
Snobs of the Eastside? First, there are tons of hard working young families from modest backgrounds living there and on the west side. Having to cross the city morning and night every day to send kids to DHS is a big waste of time. As the population weight in Dublin shift to the East Side, doesn’t it make sense to have two high schools like in Pleasanton? Why forcing all the Eastside parents to do that commuting and catch every single red lights on Dublin Blvd. Its one of the serious negative of moving to that side of town and doesn’t help Dublin’s growth.
Read the next US census results carefully. your perception of a English-only old-timers Dublin is outdated and it is in a irreversible path toward becoming a fully diverse community where there are tons of spoken languages. Like so many others before, a Charter school supported by parents truly invested in the success of their children will have a big success. I hope you are not representative of the group who convinced Dublin Unified School District to solely invest in DHS and forget about a school for the fast growing east side of town.
11:30 PM on September 16th, 2009
This East Side vs West Side stuff is so tired; I don’t think anybody takes it seriously anymore. Who are we – gangster rappers — oh wait – they don’t even take it seriously anymore either.
I moved to Dublin (East Side) Sonata area last year, and guess what, I’m white too, just like many of my neighbors. But best of all the neighborhood is very eclectic – just like our state, country, planet.
Anyhow, just about everybody here has a young family, and more are coming. Simple prudence dictates that we expand the educational choices to facilitate the growth – period.
9:30 AM on September 17th, 2009
It’s a pity that in such diverse country, there are still shallow people like you. Another pity, for you (who I assume have been speaking English your whole life), I found numerous mistakes on your statement and oh, by the way, english is not my first language! Now that’s laughable.
2:28 PM on September 17th, 2009
I live on the East side (my wife’s parents barely speak English) and agree with your comment that most parents here do not speak English. They are also NOT very active in the community. Try saying “good morning” to someone and you’ll get a blank stare. It’s going to be difficult to get this school off the ground I think…
6:06 PM on September 17th, 2009
This conversation about non-English speaking parents is ludicrous, discriminatory, and promotes prejudices that we don’t need in Dublin, the Bay Area or California.
I usually don’t say negative things, but those who think that non-English speaking parents are anti-social/rude need to open their eyes and start interacting with more people with an open mind. Then maybe you’ll start to grow up to act as welcoming and open hearted as our children.
3:30 PM on September 23rd, 2009
I couldn’t agree more. I also hear comments that West (old money)Dublin looks down on East(new money)Dublin. In such a small town like Dublin, we should have one goal – future of our children – in a better world. Shame on you, the parents, who are supposed to be role models for their children but brainwashing them, instead, with their own prejudices.
Also, please do research next time when you vote for the school board or any public elections. We shouldn’t have individuals (who look down on and label students as robots, just because they are more hardworking or because they are not on certain sports teams)to decide for us or for our city. BTW, those children are just as active as every other child in this town. Those individuals, calling these students robots, are the victims of their own fears, prejudices and paradigms. I’m sure they are afraid of failing their children but they just don’t know why!!!!.
3:25 PM on September 17th, 2009
guess what – check out the statistics – it’s the children of the “parents that barely speak English” that consistenly score higher on the school tests…..the facts speak for themselves… California is a diverse state – if you don’t like it’s diversity – then you should really live elsewhere.
10:53 AM on September 18th, 2009
You may be right, and I’m open to suggestions… Good luck with the Muslim Center!
2:27 PM on September 19th, 2009
Hey, Frank, you can probably move to Montana…Oh, wait, even Montana is getting purple now…Wow, it is really hard to find a place in US for you to live now…What about Alaska? Sara Palin will welcome you there for sure…Wait again, she is not the governor anymore…Wow, that is really tough…
4:26 PM on September 16th, 2009
The success of Tassajara Prep really depends on the APIs of DHS. If DHS can gain another 30-40 points, I would much rather send my kids to a traditional high school. The commute really isn’t that big of a deal. Given Fallon’s API is only 900, I don’t foresee Tassajara Prep’s API going above that, especially since high school APIs tend to be lower than middle schools.
5:10 PM on September 16th, 2009
Why would you suggest that the success of Tassajara Prep depends in any way on the API scores at Dublin HS? Should the success of Dublin HS depend on the API scores at Tassajara Prep? Of course not. The higher the scores at both high schools, the better it will be for all of Dublin.
If Tassajara Prep scores 900, it will be the second highest scoring school in the Tri-Valley, higher than Foothill, Amador, Cal, SRV and Monte Vista. Several of those schools are rated by U.S. News & World Report as some of the finest high schools in the country.
Having two high schools in Dublin will surely elevate the performance of both schools due to their friendly rivalry, just like with Amador and Foothill in Pleasanton. Kids in Pleasanton can go to whichever high school they prefer, so the rivalry is not a geographical one. Kids in Dublin will have a similar choice to make.
If you want to go to a football powerhouse, maybe Dublin High is the school for you. If a great symphony orchestra is important to you, maybe you’ll choose Tassajara Prep. Those are just hypothetical examples, of course.
What do you like about a “traditional” high school that you don’t think will exist at Tassajara Prep? You should go to their town hall meetings and let them know what those things are, and maybe your input will result in Tassajara Prep becoming just the kind of school you would want your kids to go to, and you might end up saving a lot of gas and wear and tear on your cars.
If you don’t like the idea of your kids going to a more academically oriented college prep high school, then you should be happy that you will have the choice of two high schools in Dublin. You should be glad that other parents will have the same choice, and can choose to send their kids to a college prep high school if that’s their preference.
Maybe some people will decide that they would rather go to the high school that’s closest to their home, even though the other high school may be a better fit for their kids. That’s the great thing about having a choice. Everyone wins.
5:29 PM on September 16th, 2009
I don’t believe Pleasanton students can choose their high school. It’s based on where they live.
6:17 PM on September 16th, 2009
Someone wrote: “I don’t believe Pleasanton students can choose their high school. It’s based on where they live.”
That’s technically true, but in reality students can choose to go to whichever high school they prefer. We currently live on one of around 150 streets in Pleasanton that are in what are called “Choice Areas”, where students are free to go to Foothill or Amador. Our kids went to Amador.
http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/educationalservices/pupilservices/documents/Choice_Info_Form09.pdf
However, students living outside the “Choice Areas” can simply petition to attend the high school of their choice. I’ve never heard of anyone being turned down. Our close friends had two of their kids attend Amador and three attend Foothill. It depended on which sports they were most interested in, or which school their best friends decided to go to. They were really happy to have the choice.
It sounds like students in Dublin will have two high schools to choose from regardless of where they live, unless one of the high schools is full. That’s where waiting lists come into play.
Lori of Pleasanton
8:51 PM on September 19th, 2009
In what way is Dublin High failing to prepare students for college? Having spoken to many parents those with children at Dublin High are very happy with the academics and AP course options. Those with younger kids (and esp. East parents where I live) tend to fear the High School based on myths and misinformation. I recommend those without kids of high school age take the time to get to know Dublin High. You will be impressed.
5:12 PM on September 16th, 2009
Can you expand on the advantages of a “traditional” high school? You find 900 not high enough for Fallon? Some comments make it sound like its the first Charter school to be ever created.
The commute is not a big deal IF they offer school bus service to East Dublin residents. Not everyone has time on their hands to cross the city every workday or get their kids to do it themselves.
9:59 PM on September 16th, 2009
I’d think a score of 900 is great for any school. Not sure what the poster meant by “only 900″.
11:23 PM on September 16th, 2009
900 is great. It’s beyond great. The point is that Tassajara Prep will not be able to achieve that and its scores will most likely be in the mid 800s which is the same as DHS. If academic achievements are equivalent, wouldn’t you prefer a school with better facilities and more extra-curricular activities.
4:42 PM on September 16th, 2009
Wow, how are they going to pull this off without charging a tuition? Where’s the funding going to come from? Regular public schools are strugling, so I don’t know if this is wishful-thinking unless they charge a hefty fee to the students.
1:43 PM on September 17th, 2009
Good point Randy. With the both the state and DUSD cutting teachers & staff and closing schools, it seems logical that a big part of the operating cost of a new school would need to be funded privately.
8:59 AM on September 19th, 2009
I am a Mom of two boys and I consider my kid’s education are very important. If the new school is good, I really don’t mind if I have to pay a fee.
5:33 PM on September 16th, 2009
It says there are 31 comments on this story, but I only see 12. Is something buggy?
5:37 PM on September 16th, 2009
Hi Anonymous,
Currently, above the “Leave a Comment” image, there is a link to “older comments”. The comment section has been paginated for quite some time now. Thank you.
9:35 AM on September 17th, 2009
I am not a fan of the pagination. Clicking on recent comments doesn’t appear to jump to posts on subsequent pages.
9:40 AM on September 17th, 2009
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your critical feedback. We recognize comment navigation remains a challenge for the Around Dublin Team. We are actively investigating and evaluating potential solutions, and we appreciate your patience in the meantime. Thank you again.
10:30 PM on September 19th, 2009
Can we remove the pagination? For topics with a lot of comments, it’s impossible to find the new comments without the recent comment links working. For topics with few comments, pagination is really not necessary. Is the pagination more for usability, SEO, or page rank?
10:10 PM on September 16th, 2009
The fact is that West Dubliners should be thanking East Dubliners for helping to increase the API scores of DHS. That’s good for all of Dublin.
6:52 AM on September 17th, 2009
What incredible arrogance. Wow.
6:16 PM on September 17th, 2009
“West Dubliners should thank East Dubliners….”
Please don’t say things like that.
I am from East Dublin and I feel ashamed that you paint it like all East Dubliners look down on West Dubliners. Who made this classification of East and West anyway, with one or the other seemingly thought of as more intelligent, affluent or privileged than the other? I hope you are a young, immature child who happened to have access to this blog. That wasn’t a statement coming from a proper and mature citizen.
3:42 PM on September 24th, 2009
I also think the above comment is quite rude. But please be patient and look beyond the clumsy arrogance and zoom into its content. There is something there.
The fact is that the 3 new schools on the East side has surged ahead and lead the older West side schools by a lot using whatever metrics (API, CST, etc..)
The fact is that the West side parents should be humming mad, but they are not. Imagine school board meetings when Green’s score dips below 850!
The fact is that Dublin High’s recent test scores jumped by 40 points is the direct result of Fallon students influx. If you doubt my statement, please check on Wells middle school’s scores.
The fact is that a portion of parents on the East side simply do not want to send their kids to Dublin High. The reasons why can only be guessed (fear, bias, arrogance), probably a mixture of all three. Pay no attention to the traffic argument: it’s nonsense. They will take time to drive half an hour to a school deemed appropriate for their kids. They wanted a high school on the East side, but was voted down due to insufficient student population. Money was spent on upgrading Dublin High instead.
The fact is that all this creates a perfect opportunity for the Dublin Learning Corp to enter the picture and pitch for a Dublin Charter school.
4:27 PM on September 24th, 2009
Interesting point of view. Next time I go to Windemere, I`ll tell everyone I see that they got a brand new high school out of their fear, bias and arrogance. When I considered buying a house there, having a high school at close proximity rather than forcing the future residents to commute to the other side of town was one of the major pitch argument from the sellers…and a major reason for Windemere success.
Sorry but if I have to drive 30 minutes to send my kid to a decent high school, I will have moved out before that.
4:38 PM on September 24th, 2009
Well…houses in West Dublin are quite affordable. Feel free to move closer to DHS.
4:43 PM on September 24th, 2009
The high school near Windermere (which is now 1500 students btw – larger than Dublin High) made sense because the other two San Ramon Unified schools were bigger than 2000 students – see my other posting on that point.
Please explain to me how two smaller public schools will compete with larger public schools in other communities for comprehensive programming.
I’ve made this point separately – small private schools can offer only advanced programming because private schools can selectively admit students and aggressively expel students based on academic performance (whereas public schools cannot). I went to a private school for high school – and guess what – half of the kids I knew in 9th grade were kicked out for academic performance reasons by the time I graduated. Guess what – as a result that small private school (500 students) only had advanced classes. A public school can’t do that.
I would love to have a high school on the east side – I live on the east side – what I don’t want is two small school without critical mass and as a result weaker program options for everyone. My kids are straight A students that will be on advanced / AP tracks. I do not believe two small schools will provide the choice I want.
Your believe that I am concerned out of fear is incorrect. Not one person in any response on this blog has explained how Dublin will compete with smaller public schools.
I do believe there is a market for a small private high school on the east side – and you never know – that could be the alternate outcome for Tassajara Prep.
I also believe at some point Dublin High will cross 2,000 students at which point a second high school starts to make sense. But not now and not soon.
5:12 PM on September 24th, 2009
My guess is that just by the way the school structures its curriculum they can attract or repel certain students, in essence selectively admitting. If they do not have a strong remedial/special needs program and I am of special needs, chances are I would choose not to attend the school.
5:34 PM on September 24th, 2009
Hi, James,
I have an interesting scenario. Let me share with you:-)
Given the fact that Dougherty Valley High already has 1500 students after only opening for three years, it confirms the theory that good high schools do attract more families with kids moving there. So let’s just assume for a moment Tassajara Prep opens and turns out to be a good school (say, API over 880). It will attract more families with kids moving to Dublin. So a few short years after Tassajara Prep opens, we will have too many high school students that one high school can accommodate. Some students have to be overflown to Dublin High, so DHS will benefit from that as well. Wouldn’t that be great?
Well, I know, this sounds like a chicken-and-egg problem:-)
11:09 PM on September 16th, 2009
I know most people don’t choose a preschool just cause it’s the closest one to their house. Why would you choose a high school using that criteria.
10:56 AM on September 17th, 2009
The land part is easy. The school district must provide space by taking it from existing facilities. For example, how do you feel about having high school kids attend Fallon? This is all just about East Side people getting there way, not about education. Another example? Nielsen Elemenatary could fit this charter school easily, but most east side people won’t want to send their kids there. Fibally the people leading this will decide what kind of school it will be. Sounds like a place for an elite set of kids trying to get into Stanford.
11:29 AM on September 17th, 2009
I wouldn’t minimize the land part of the equation — but that’s only one of many signifcant questions that we’ll look forward to seeing more detail on.
* Experienced team to get this off the ground — that’s why I asked the question of who are the 5 people on the board. I’d expect to see people with experience (1) as successful educators, and (2) as successful business owners
* Business plan & Funding plan – starting any new business requires a lot of capital, especially one that’s as labor-intensive as a school.
* School Board support – I’m interested to see if the school board is behind this
* Location – FAQ says existing school facility, but there’s only one open school (the old elementary school open in Dublin). Unless the school board full supports this, dont count on existing school space.
I’m glad that DLC will be at the day on the glen this weekend to help answer these questions. Would also be a good idea for DLC to address these on their website, since there is a lot of marketing info there, but not too much concrete data.
Please dont mis-read this as being pessimistic. I think any successful venture that can improve Dublin’s academics is a good thing. That said, I think we should all want a level of comfort that there is a real, executable plan behind this. Putting up a website is the easy part — getting all of the pieces in place for a school opening in 35 months is the tricky piece. There’s a lot of enthusiasm in the comments posted over the last couple of days, so I’m asking these questions to give me a level of comfort before I get too excited about my child being about to go to a charter school.
4:08 AM on September 17th, 2009
I’ll leave this experiment to others. My older child just started at DHS and we’re very happy with the academics. Child #2 could attend this charter school but why roll the dice? Someone else’s kids csn be the guinea pigs for a school with no track record.
And yes I’m on the “east side”.
7:47 AM on September 17th, 2009
I was wondering where on Tassajara the school will be..
10:24 AM on September 17th, 2009
I think Tassajara Prep is just the school name, it doesn’t mean it will be on Tassajara Blvd. It sounds like they don’t know the permanent location yet, or can’t tell us. It probably depends on negotiations with land owners. That’s how land for most new schools is found these days, it is donated by builders to boost the prices of their homes or sometimes in exchange for higher density on the rest of their land, just like when they donate park land or open space.
5:03 PM on September 19th, 2009
Attended Day on the Glen talking to the leaders of this initiative (including the owner of this blog)… this project is at the seedling stage. I asked some pretty basic questions and wasn’t given any real answers. Anyone thinking of having their children be guinea pigs for this initiative will want answers to these questions:
- What is the plan for the interm facility? Will Fallon School be off the table as an option? (Fallon parents beware – Fallon is really the only East side option for an interim facility – do you want your middle school children with high school youths?) The leaders I spoke to claimed that they hadn’t thought of Fallon as an interim option. Right.
- What problem does this school solve? The first answer wasn’t about education it was about commute time. I live in Dublin Ranch and my daughter attends Dublin High (and enjoying it very much and aspires to attend Berkeley). Our commute is horrifying 10 minutes. Dublin is a tiny city – there are no long commutes to anywhere in Dublin. So where will the permanent location be that resolves the commute – for the interim school or permanent school? No answer was given because the reality is they have no idea at this point.
- Pressing on what problem this new school solves I was given brochure-ware answers about it being a college prep school with a wide range of AP classes. Dublin High has a wide range of AP classes and graduates students that attend a wide spectrum of colleges already. Pressing the leaders they agreed Dublin High is an excellent school so again – what problem is being solved?
- Asking about funding the leaders claimed there is no cost to Dublin residents because the State provides funding. Wait a second – don’t I pay States taxes as well? I already approved $270M for a bond measure that in large part rebuilds and expands the existing high school for much greater capacity. And I pay taxes for the facilities that would provide the interim space. Finally, any students that divert from Dublin High to this new school removes funding from Dublin High.
- Finally regarding AP classes I pressed the leaders to explain how this new school – which is open to the public – would provide more AP class options than Dublin High while having a smaller (500-1000) student population. Since all students can attend, and not all students can handle AP, would the school funding model support smaller class sizes? Would a school with fewer students be able to support the range of class options of a larger school? Again, no answers – perhaps not surprising given that none of the leaders attending Day on the Glen had any educational background.
For those who fear Dublin High because they’ve never been there or don’t have children there I recommend this – if this new school is all about choice they fully understand the choice you already have. You’ll be surprised – Dublin High is an excellent school. I can say that because (unlike the blog owner) I actually have a child attending Dublin High.
I expect this topic will be debated with vigor.
9:22 AM on September 20th, 2009
Regarding the AP class participation, we had some argument about this before. The reason why some of the top charter schools with very small student population (say, less than 500) can still offer more AP classes because the AP participation rate is much higher in those schools (something like close to 100% vs less than 20% for Bronze Medal public schools). You can get all the statistic data from US News & World Report high school ranking report.
6:07 PM on September 17th, 2009
When I first read about the Livermore charter school, I thought they’d never make it happen, but they did. Livermore parents had to go over the heads of their school board to make it happen, but the board was forced by law to cooperate. Starting a charter school is not impossible, with or without the school board’s approval.
10:06 PM on September 17th, 2009
Facts are facts. So, before going for more arguments, let’s set this correctly.
2009 API scores of public schools in Dublin
West
1. Dublin Elementary (K-5) 870
2. Dublin High (9-12) 842
3. Frederiksen Elementary (K-5) 831
4. Murray Elementary (K-5) 836
5. Wells Middle (6-8) 796
Average: 835
East
6. James Dougherty Elementary (K-5) 943
7. Eleanor Murray Fallon (K-9) 900
8. John Green Elementary (K-4) 925
Average: 923
I ran a t-test for the statistics, and the result is:
\The two-tailed P value equals 0.0030
By conventional criteria, this difference is considered to be very statistically significant.\
Basically, it interprets that the difference is statistically very significant.
In addition, the difference of API scores for K-5 schools only is even larger between these two sides.
People should understand that there are certain demographics that care more about their children’s education. However, that doesn’t mean that one side is superior to the other. It will look good for all Dubliners if the Dublin public schools achieve higher academic standards than now.
3:03 PM on September 19th, 2009
To Anonymous
10:06 PM on September 17th, 2009
Yes, facts are facts. There are certain cultures that push their kids harder for academic excellence. Of course, many of these same kids who focus only on academics and no sports, clubs, dances, etc. go to Ivy colleges and suffer due to poor social skills and lack of confidence. They spend their entire HS career with their noses stuck in a book. I know of a few Cal students who went wild when they arrived in Berkeley. So, before I make the same generalization as you did, I agree with your scientific and mathematical observations. I just don’t want my kids to be robots.
John B. Ledahl
Trustee, DUSD
5:03 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Dear Mr. Trustee of Dublin United School District,
I had to read your comment twice before believing my eyes. Hard working, high achieving students are now robots? How do you think a studious kid would feel had he/she read your blog? And this from a trustee of a school board? Does the rest of the board support your view? Board members please sound in. Let us know.
People in Dublin, how did you EVER elected this person to steer your children’s education? This is absolutely amazing!
I also know a couple of grad students finishing their PhD at Stanford (by way of the Dublin public school system) who are as normal and happy as can be. But wait, robots can’t play soccer, drink wine, AND conduct research on quantum well structures of V-III compound structures, can they? It’s not a fair question since you obviously didn’t have your nose stuck in a book and become a robot, and it takes a robot to understand these complicated things…
5:17 PM on September 23rd, 2009
I have seen John L. made such comments on more than a few occasions. I have warned him before and I am going to warn him again: Johh L., you are exactly the opposite guy who has any business in the school board. You will be kicked out in the next election.
6:51 PM on September 23rd, 2009
No he won’t loose the next election. He’s telling his constituents exactly what they want to hear. There’s no problem here. Everything’s fine. Test scores are sufficient and improving. Unfortunately they are swallowing it lock, stock, and barrel. It has worked in the past and will work in the future.
3:39 PM on September 24th, 2009
With people like John L. in the school board, it certainly justifies to have a Charter school where parents have more control over the education:-)
9:15 AM on September 24th, 2009
Thank you for your reaction(s) to Mr. Ledahl! I agree with your comments that he has no place on our school board.
Mr. Ledahl, you should apologize and resign from the board. I don’t think the rest of the school board would agree with you. Mr. Haubert believes in providing choices to our children, such as Advanced Diploma option in DHS.
Your comments are not only racist but also very inaccurate. Those kids, whom you label as robots, are involved in more activities than you can imagine, especially community projects.. Have you ever been to any of the club meetings in DHS? Have you ever observed those kids playing tennis, swimming, or playing piano? Have you heard of YAC, CSF, or CYLC?? I didn’t think so.
Oh but you’re right, they may not be able to secure “socially-acceptable” sports-scholarships from community colleges which, apparently, your ultimate goal is for the DHS students!! Even if you are satisfied with this, how many of them do you think will achieve this goal, and what happens to rest of them?? Do you have plans for them??
“The robots” on the other hand may become CEOs and demonstrate their
“poor social skills” at corporate functions!! what a shame!!
And BTW, I am a parent, whose “scholar-athlete-robot” teenager is involved in “socially-acceptable” sports!!
12:44 PM on September 24th, 2009
Funny you mentioned the word CEO. That’s exactly what these kids want to be. They want to start a company to do materials characterizations and physical computer model simulations of semiconductor manufacturing processes. Pretty similar to what they are doing now at school, but in the future they will get paid very well by the Intels, AMD’s, and AMAT’s.
But first they have to finish their thesis and defend it with their lives against at least 5 very smart and grouchy old men!
I am not a Dublin resident, but from these kids who went to Dublin High (mind you this happened years ago as these “kids” are now in their late 20′s), they tell tales of being singled out, bullied, and labeled as freaks and abnormal. The school system were geared to push them down rather than encouraging their learning process.
One of them had to catch a bus after school to attend the community college in order to satisfy UC’s entrance requirement because Dublin High did not offer these classes. All this without the parents’ (poor and uneducated) and the teachers’( couldn’t care less, spent most of the time disciplining other kids) involvement and support. Guess what? UCSD Engineering school, now Stanford Grad and soon to be father. It’s an heart warming success story. I wonder about the others who were smart enough but did not have the self-discipline and drive to catch that bus.
No Mr. Trustee, these kids are not robots. They are extremely focused, intelligent and mature human beings who naturally want to excel. Don’t make light of their effort in trying to make their lives better than their parents’.
7:50 AM on September 18th, 2009
As someone who grew up in another state in an area that has multiple nationally ranked high schools, I have to admit I’m a little surprised that distance seems to be such a concern. There, towns the size of Dublin only had one high school. It was just expected that you’d have to drive further to high school than you did for your local elementary or middle school. This let the district pool all its resources into creating one top-notch school. To reduce the transportation burden, school buses transported students, or parents organized car pools, or students drove themselves and their neighborhood friends.
My spouse and I both attended top private universities, and our hope for our children is to provide them the best possible education that will let them achieve any goal they have for themselves in life. I fully support efforts to bring a top college prep high school to Dublin, and I support the district’s efforts to turn Dublin High into a high performing high school.
I’ll also admit to being a “West Sider,” and I find this whole division between the west and east sides of town ridiculous. Dublin is just not that big! Our family patronizes business on both ends of town. We have friends on both sides of town, who are hard-working families who are doing the best for their kids and care deeply about their education. We chose to move into our neighborhood in “central Dublin” because it was an established neighborhood with a close sense of community. We have the most caring neighbors I’ve had in my entire life. I’m quite happy to be living here.
I will admit to being jealous the newer school facilities. Frederiksen in particular looks quite old and tired next to the gorgeous new facilities. I know Fred’s API scores are lower compared to the newer communities, and there are probably a lot of reasons for that. But know that there is a strong group of smart, professional, highly educated parents who are deeply invested in their kids’ educations who are going above and beyond to raise scores, raise money, and make it the best possible place for learning it can be. I’d love to see newer facilities constructed to replace some of the older ones on this side of town, though I realize that’s a pipe dream. However, it is in the best interests of the town and district as a whole to do what it can to raise API scores of all schools in the district to raise the district-wide score.
9:47 PM on September 18th, 2009
To Anonymous 7:50 AM on September 18th, 2009
Thank you for your insights and encouragement for all of Dublin to work together. I am happy people like you are moving into town with your children to replace people like me whose kids have grown.
Just a clarification on the older schools in town. The community is investing about $9M at each of our older elementary schools. Frederiksen has recently had a new roof, new kindergarten building, HVAC syste, and much more. For a 40 year old school it is in excellent shape. I wish my kids had those upgrades when they attended Fred.
7:58 AM on September 19th, 2009
Fellow Around Dublin Readers -
Be sure to drop by the Tassajara Prep booth at the Day on the Glen festival today and tomorrow from 10 AM to 5 PM. In addition to meeting everyone and providing information about this exciting new era in Dublin’s public schools, we will have fun activities & prizes for younger kids. We will also be conducting an intriguing guessing game for all ages, with fabulous prizes ranging from $25 gift cards for Extreme Pizza to a $100 gift card for Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt! Yum!
We look forward to meeting all of you this weekend!
Tim Hall
Vice-President, Dublin Learning Corporation
5:12 PM on September 19th, 2009
To Anonymous
5:03 PM on September 19th, 2009
Bravo!
8:57 PM on September 19th, 2009
To Anonymous 5:03 PM on September 19th, 2009
Wow that’s a nice analysis, I do feel that they are still really early in the planning stage however regarding the leaders background; they seem to be working with a couple of folks who run Livermore Charter school. I got to talk to one of them. I think if they’re going to work closely with the Livermore Charter folks guidence on this. I don’t see a reason why this would fail.
I think it’s a very interesting concept that they’re asking the citizen for inputs to shape up the school. I’m going to be there for their Town Hall meetings to check out what it’s all about. I mean am I really going to have a voice in what kind of curriculums or tracks that go to the school? If I am, that’s really exciting!!
Dublin High is a great school, their API score just went up which is really great!! So what’s so bad about have two excellent high schools in one city? You’re going to have a choice for your kids’ education. Why is that a ‘problem’ that needs to be solved??
2:00 AM on September 20th, 2009
Does anyone know the latest on the new Catholic High School set to open in Livermore? I believe it will be called Pope John Paul II.
3:11 AM on September 20th, 2009
After a very full day in the Tassajara Prep booth at Day on the Glen, we are delighted to report the overwhelming positive response from festival attendees today. We were quite often swamped with people crowding the booth clamoring for information about the new public high school coming to town. We have long known that there was a strong demand for a high school in east Dublin, but even we were surprised by the excitement and gratitude expressed by many, many parents.
The first thing we were asked today by most parents was “When will the school open and where will it be located?” The first question is easy to answer. As the Tassajara Prep banners over our booth proclaim, we expect the school to open in Fall 2012, most likely just for 9th grade the first year.
The question of where the school will be located is not an easy one to give a satisfying answer to at this stage of the process. We are still working on our petition. We want to obtain everyone’s input at our upcoming town hall meetings before we finalize the petition and submit it to the Dublin Unified School District, so that our petition reflects the needs of the community. After the petition has been submitted, it could take months before it is approved. Once the petition is approved, the school district will notify us on how they will provide a facility for Tassajara Prep. Until then, we probably will not know where our initial facility will be.
Once we have an approved charter petition in hand, we can start working with the city and land owners to identify a site for Tassajara Prep’s permanent location. After the site has been identified, we can start work on obtaining the land and financing the construction of the new school. The most we can legally say at this point is that our long-term plan is to build Tassajara Prep in east Dublin. Anything more specific than that is just conjecture right now.
We want to thank everyone for their opinions on and interest in Tassajara Prep – even those based on misinformation. We encourage everyone to attend our town hall meetings, where input from stakeholders will be gathered and a great deal of the speculation and misinformation relating to the plans for Tassajara Preparatory High School will be addressed and clarified.
Finally, we were very pleased to see that many visitors to our booth today had engaging conversations with Tara Aderman. For those who don’t yet know Tara, she is the Principal of Livermore Valley Charter School and brings a wealth of teaching and administration expertise to our team. Although Tara will not be available on Sunday, we will again be joined all day by Bill Batchelor, another key member of our team who is also Chief Operating Officer of Livermore Valley Charter School and an expert on school operations, funding & financial management.
We look forward to meeting many more of you tomorrow at another exciting (and hot) Day on the Glen.
4:49 PM on September 20th, 2009
From the ‘Characteristics of a Great High School’ article, it was apparent that “nearly half of the gold medal high schools have selective admissions criteria and a full 68% of the gold and silver medal schools are located in affluent areas.” If Tassajara Prep is not going to have a selective admission criteria – admitting only top students from the entire city, or offer admission strictly for East Dublin residence, I don’t see how it’s going to achieve an exception API score. If this project is mainly to save commute time, then I think it’s a waste of time.
9:48 PM on September 20th, 2009
I was told by the representatives at Day on the Glen that Tassajara Prep would not harm the existing schools or district – only help. I’m interested in a response to this article re: Prop 39 from the California School Board Association website. In particular I’m interested in a response from Rully Kusuma who’s child (and potentially children) will be affected by any impacts to Dublin elementary and middle schools enroute to high school. Sounds to me like a new charter school gets a free ride on the back of the school district. Am I reading this wrong? Sounds like the “reasonably equivalent” money has to come from somewhere – and that would be the Dublin School District – right? Educate me.
http://www.csba.org/NewsAndMedia/Publications/CASchoolNews/2008/Mar/ElectronicOnly/Prop39RegsOKd.aspx
New Prop. 39 rules OK’d; affect charter facility requests for 2009-10
Rejecting objections from CSBA and other members of the education community, the Office of Administrative Law has approved new Proposition 39 rules that significantly diminish school districts’ discretion over how facilities are allocated.
The new rules, issued Feb. 28, are contained in amendments to the state Board of Education’s Proposition 39 Title 5 regulations. Proposition 39 was the ballot measure approved by voters in 2000 that, in part, requires districts to provide local charter schools with facilities that are “sufficient” and “reasonably equivalent” to other buildings, classrooms or facilities in the district..
“Many of these proposed revisions are detrimental to school districts,” said Stephanie Farland, senior policy consultant for CSBA. “For example, the district will not be able to move a charter school from a district site without approval of the charter itself or a state board waiver. We believe that the state board has exceeded its authority in such a way that districts no longer have the necessary discretion to act in the best interests of their students. “
The regulations will take effect on March 29, so they will apply to facilities requests received by districts this fall for the 2009-10 school year.
CSBA has led opposition to the new rules on grounds that the regulations go well beyond what Proposition 39 requires and will create hardships for school districts and students. CSBA’s Education Legal Alliance is contemplating legal action against the state board this spring to overturn the regulations.
Farland outlined some of the most troubling and potentially serious requirements in the new rules. They include:
· Reasonably equivalent furnishings and equipment: Proposition 39 specifies that charter school facilities provided by districts must be “furnished and equipped.” The amended regulations state that a facility will be “furnished and equipped” if it includes “reasonably equivalent” furnishings and equipment such as are found in the comparison group schools. However, the new regulations greatly expand the definition of “furnished and equipped” to include furniture, vehicles, machinery, motion picture film, videotape and intangible assets such as major software programs. The regulations allow a district to exclude furnishings and equipment paid for through non-district resources, such as donations or PTA-sponsored items, when determining reasonable equivalence, but the new language goes well beyond what was contemplated when Proposition 39 took effect and is contradictory to other sections of the regulations that specify that districts are not required to use general funds for facilities given to charters.
· Conversion charters: Conversion charter schools are those charters that are created when a district school’s parents or faculty submit a petition to convert a district-operated school into a charter school or those charters created as a remedy for poor performance under the state’s Public School Accountability Act. Currently, Proposition 39 provides that a school district may not move a charter school to another site “unnecessarily”. Under the new regulations, a conversion charter school will be entitled to remain at the school site where it was operating before it became a charter school as long as the charter school requests the site from the school district on an annual basis. In addition, the amended regulations will require a school district to obtain a waiver from the SBE in order to move a conversion charter away from the previous location. Given that the regulations were approved by the SBE, it is unlikely that many such waivers would be approved.
· Revised timelines for responding to facilities requests: The amended regulations shorten the time period for districts to respond to charter school facilities requests and impose deadlines for each action to be taken during consideration of the request. In addition, the amendments impose consequences for missed deadlines. Charter schools must submit facilities requests for the next school year to districts by Nov. 1. Districts then have until Dec. 1 to review a charter school’s enrollment projections, express any objections in writing, and calculate the enrollment projections that the district considers reasonable. If the district misses this deadline, the charter school’s enrollment projections stand and the district must base its facilities offer on those projections. For districts that receive more than one facilities request, or for districts with small administrative office staffs, the new timeline will require significant staff time and resources.
· Reporting of a school district’s facilities charges: Under Proposition 39, a district can charge a charter school a pro-rata share of its facilities costs. When the new regulations go into effect, each charter school will have to report to the California Department of Education, by June 1 of each school year, the charge per square foot it is paying in the current fiscal year. School districts will have an opportunity to provide explanatory information regarding the square-foot charge. The CDE will post the per-square-foot amounts and any explanatory information on its Web site.
The regulations contain many other troublesome changes, Farland said. CSBA will provide continuing updates on any litigation its Education Legal Alliance undertakes, and will issue advisories to school districts as needed. Please contact Farland for additional information at 800-266-3382.
10:22 AM on September 21st, 2009
Starting a new high school in east Dublin without the support of DUSD will only divide the people and create unnecessary turmoil for most of our children. The only people who would benefit are eastside residents with children who are more than 5 years away from high school (currently 3rd grade or younger). For everyone else this new high school would be negative.
If new high school is created, there is no doubt this would negatively impact Dublin high school whether in terms of enrollment, academic scores or funding. The eastside residents with children in 4th grade above, there will be much turmoil and uncertainty as the new school works to establish itself. If the economy does not recover well, a permanent facility may also be delayed. It will also force DUSD to open up spaces for the new school, unnecessarily moving students around in order to accomodate. There are other issues such as competition for funding, teachers and general bad blood between the two schools.
I hope people who started all this begin to see that there are other children in the city of Dublin and the negative impact the new school will have on them and not just the benefit for their children.
By the way I live in Dublin Ranch.
11:18 AM on September 21st, 2009
I live on the east side and I completely agree with James. Parents in east Dublin do not want or need a new high school. This is just something cooked up by a small group of disgruntled residents who hate the school district and don’t even have children in our schools. What they really want to do is raise property values in east Dublin, not help the students. Don’t let the selfish haters get their way. There is already Quarry Lane high school on Tassajara Rd and how many of you send your kids there instead of Dublin High? Case closed.
11:35 AM on September 21st, 2009
Quarry Lane High School is not a good comparison here. They charge a lot of money for tuition. Tassajara Prep is free.
I only see more choices and healthy competition between two public high schools are positives. Property values increase is not a bad thing either, unless you are not a property owner.
2:38 PM on September 21st, 2009
I’m a property owner in Dublin Ranch – have been since 2000. Every single person I’ve spoken to since Saturday – once they get the facts about Dublin High – understand the risk this charter initiative introduces. It will hurt East Dublin schools (esp. Fallon) and will not help our high school students. The Tassajara Prep leadership that I’m aware of fits into one of the following buckets:
- doesn’t live in Dublin
- doesn’t have kids period
- doesn’t have kids at Dublin High
If there is a credible argument why a new high school now would be better for Dublin I’ll be open to that argument. I just haven’t heard a credible argument yet.
The more choice argument is not credible because a high school needs either (a) critical mass to service all students or (b) private funding (so that the lower achieving kids are expelled). I have personal experience on this point – I attended the top Canadian private school (Uppper Canada College) and it was 500 students. They were able to offer only advanced classes because all the underachieving students were expelled. A public school – with or without a charter – can’t do that.
A charter school (or a second high school) at this point in time – or in the next 5-10 years – will result in two small high schools, program cuts and a loss for all Dublin students.
Don’t be smoke-screened by the “choice” argument.
4:09 PM on September 21st, 2009
I checked the background information for some of the board members. Some of them do have kids or grand-kids. Some are just very active in and dedicated to the community (like Johh Z). Others are experienced charter school operators. I do not see these are negatives.
I did not really get your argument that Tassajara Prep is bad for Fallon. Can you elaborate a little bit more?
I believe in the next 5-10 years, if Dublin population will grow to 80K according to the forecast, Dublin may indeed need two high schools in order to accommodate all the students. Think about it: Why does Pleasanton have two high schools now even its population is only around 60K. The only reasonable explanation for that is you will attract more parents to move here if you have better high schools. So the percentage for parents having high school kids is higher. If you are really confident about Dublin High and you believe it will get better (or maybe better than Pleasanton schools), it is quite possible Dublin will attract more parents with high school kids to move here. If so, just one high school will not be enough in the next 5-10 years.
5:17 PM on September 21st, 2009
Let me help out here on the population of Dublin and the mix of school aged kids. Dublin at build out will be around 70K. If our housing demographics were the same as Pleasanton, mostly single family homes, I’d agree with the need for a second high school. However, the amount of high density housing in Dublin is and will be significantly higher. Every demographer will tell you that high density housing produces significantly less students. At build out Dublin will have approximately 2400 high school students. The current high school at build out will accomodate 2500. there is no need for a second high school. A second high school will hurt the overall program in the district because we will be spending more money on fixed costs and will have less to spend in the classroom
5:23 PM on September 21st, 2009
Your statistics could be outdated already. Previously, the projection for Dublin population is 67K. Now the new projection is around 80K. So you just cannot predict very well on the student population. Besides, there are a lot of single family housing development (Like Wallis Ranch) are not even started yet.
5:38 PM on September 21st, 2009
Tassajara Prep could be very bad for Fallon because that is the location they are looking at grabbing via Prop 39 for a temporary location (and by temporary we’re talking 3 or more years). Fallon is the only East side option unless Tassajara Prep would accept Nielson (closed / vacated). The owner of this blog has promoted in a separate article turning Fallon into a high school. The Day on the Glen representatives from Tassajara Prep said Nielson wouldn’t be suitable and even suggested they could co-located at Dublin High! (wouldn’t that be ironic).
To all parents with children heading for Fallon High in the next 3-6 years – be very aware Tassajara Prep could try to turn Fallon into a mixed middle school / high school using Prop 39 – that would be a very bad idea. Middle schools and high schools are separate for a reason.
Note as well that no one at Tassajara Prep could give me any idea where the permanent facility would be located and looking at the city’s planned build out in East Dublin it is hard to see where a high school would go.
This project is all logo – no details.
7:22 PM on September 21st, 2009
Your argument about Tassajara Prep being bad for Fallon is at best based on a lot of self-righteous assumptions. The location for the new high school is not determined yet, period. Try to think outside of the box and you will find there might be a lot of other options (for the location). This is “Can-do” attitude vs your “No-can-do” attitude.
8:14 PM on September 21st, 2009
To anonymous re: the self-righteous assumptions – give me a ring at 408-394-6867 – happy to meet in person and debate further. In parallel I’d ask that you schedule a meeting with the Dublin High leadership team and learn more about the excellent high school we already have – and the plans to make very good use of the $120M of bond funding to complete rebuilding DHS.
5:09 PM on September 21st, 2009
I agree. A small school cannot be everything to everyone, so let’s just concentrate on a subgroup. If the curriculum is too broad covering classes from remedial to AP, the school is doom to fail.
5:11 PM on September 21st, 2009
Well said! It’s incredible how a small group of ignorant individuals can cause so much noise. If we all speak up against this hairbrained idea it will die a quick death and save everyone time and energy.
5:57 PM on September 21st, 2009
East Side parents do not want a high school close to them? Did you walk the streets and took a poll? I haven’t talked to one parent yet not wishing to have a high school closer. Tassajara Prep board should do such a survey to close the debate of whether East side residents wants it. Some arguments are starting to sound like we’re talking about a chemical factory wanting to set foot in East Dublin with environmentalists threatening hunger strike.
As the demographic weight shift toward the East Side, forcing the majority of the student’s parents to commute across town, it will make even more sense. With your kind of mindset, not a single 60K+ city would have two public high schools.
No one has yet answered my question, why hasn’t DHS started a public school bus system taking kids at home every morning? If my kid gets picked up every morning like millions of kids across the USA, I rest my case.
6:07 PM on September 21st, 2009
At the Day on the Glen yesterday they did take a survey at the booth – an informal one, but I think it was pretty obvious. They used push pins and a map. I talked to a gentleman there and said every person that came by and put a pin on the in East Dublin side (which looked to be around 90%+) is in favor of the school, and while the final location isn’t known, clearly – it belongs on the East side, and clearly East site parent want it.
6:30 PM on September 21st, 2009
I guess you can rest your case because there is a public bus that is specifically setup to take East Dublin kids straight to the high school every day (and back home).
Some mornings (or coming home) my daught takes the Wheels bus that makes a few stops in Dublin Ranch and then goes straight to Dublin High.
Other mornings she gets a ride with me on my way to work – I timed it this morning – 10 minutes from Dublin Ranch to Dublin High. 10 minutes. Is that the nightmare commute? Come on – what problem is Tassajara Prep really solving?
Want it free? That’s a budget issue – nothing more. It’s pretty cheap as it is (discount tickets for students).
9:56 PM on September 21st, 2009
Good information James, I wasn’t aware of the 202 route. Not a yellow school bus but better than nothing…I guess my kid will discover the joy of buses if Tassajara Prep doesn’t go through.
Today’s commute might be tolerable for DHS’s student parents who are against Tassajara Prep. But a lot of the parents in favor of Tassajara Prep are those who moved to East Dublin and will need a high school for their kids in 5-10 years, when thousands of new residents will have moved into the East Side and the roads will get much more crowded. By then Dublin Boulevard and its serie of synced red lights will be the only option in the morning. I don’t understand why the logic applied by school boards all across the Tri-Valley doesn’t apply to tomorrow’s Dublin. I guess Windemere developers were out of their mind with their brand new state-of-the-art high school by diluting San Ramon’s other high schools.
11:28 AM on September 22nd, 2009
Chuck – another thing to consider and a concern I have that I’m going to continue asking about is how a charter school opening in 3 years would negatively impact Dublin High. I know the positive spin from Tassajara Prep is that it is all goodness for Dublin – competition is good – choice is good. Let’s say Tassajara Prep somehow manages to convince 500 students to be guinea pigs in a temporary facility (that’s the reality for the first graduating class). Those 500 students would be pulled from Dublin High (either existing students or anticipated growth). Dublin High would lose funding for those students and would, as a result, have to fire teachers and cut programs. To claim otherwise is dishonest.
If Dublin High were a failed school then I’d be “bring on the charter school to replace a failed system”. Charter schools serve a valuable role in those cases. Arguably Livermore’s school system had real problems that needed a charter school option. The situation in Dublin is very different – instead of solving a problem (that I argue doesn’t exist), Tassajara Prep creates a problem. Instead of Dublin High benefiting from growth and critical mass, Dublin High will get negatively impacted. That will hurt every parent of Dublin High – that is why there is an undercurrent of very concerned parents – and undercurrent that I guarantee will grow and become more vocal as parents gets educated on this issue.
I would agree with a charter school initiative without reservation if our schools and school board were a mess – that were failing our students – that we weren’t preparing our students for the college of their choice – were violence-ridden – were corrupt – were overcrowded – were crumbling. None of this is the case – we have rising API scores (esp. at Dublin High), we have safe schools, we have a school board that is ultimately responsive (albeit sometimes only after getting loud feedback from the community – and I’ve been a loud provider of feedback). Our school board has improved significantly in the last election – and has managed finances competently. We have a brand new high school being built – that will be largely done by 2012 (and if you haven’t seen the plans for the performing arts center that will complete the project – check it out). By Fall 2010 the academic buildings will have been largely rebuilt (Math/Science buildings already open – state of the art, Fall 2010 brings on arts/humanities). In fact the Tassajara Prep representatives at Day on the Glen told me Dublin High is an excellent school. Dublin High is many years away from being overcrowded. As pointed out in several other postings Dublin High is hundreds of students away from being the same size as the average high school size in other cities in our area (~1700 at Dublin High vs. ~2500 in Pleasanton, San Ramon and other high performing communities).
My professional life is in a very competitive industry – when I compete in the business world it isn’t about creating choice and helping every company I compete with survive – it is about crushing the competition – wiping them out (read the book Marketing Warfare – great book – for a view of competition in the business world). While I doubt Tassajara Prep’s intention is to wipe out Dublin High it is disingenuous to suggest that Tassajara Prep can succeed without taking students away from Dublin High. It is dishonest to suggest that Dublin High will not be harmed in a very real way if Tassajara Prep opens. Tassajara Prep is obviously going to have a marketing strategy aimed at taking students away from Dublin High – Tassajara Prep has to do that or it won’t have the numbers to open or survive. At some point in the future if Dublin continues growing there may be critical mass for a second high school. Key point “critical mass” – where we don’t end up with two smaller schools with less programming options. I am confident that if there is a need for a second high school based on population growth – when Dublin High is approaching capacity – that the community and the school board will support that option. And if that second high school is created within the school board it can be managed in an effect way such that programming doesn’t suffer.
So for those on the fence on this issue or already decided in favor of Dublin High you have an alternate path to take that will push Dublin to even higher levels of academic achievement and address the location issue in part:
- Push for even more direct/convenient access to Dublin High via bus (solvable problem)
- Push for an IB program at Dublin High (if that initiative started now IB would be available years before Tassajara Prep could accomplish the same goal – you have to be accredited before an IB effort can be initiated)
- Push for continued expansion of AP, honors and advanced classes (Dublin High supports many AP classes already based on the constraints of the school population size) – I help fight for a 9th Grade Advanced English class several years ago. Guess what – my voice was heard and my daughter is taking (and loving) that class right now.
Separately, I rec’d this indirectly “John Zukoski: Hi Karin – just to reiterate, Tassajara Prep is not looking to co-locate at Fallon.” To the Tassajara Prep representatives reviewing this blog it would be helpful to definitely take Fallon off the table. I realize it is early in the process and Prop 39 is in play but co-locating at Fallon is of significant concern to parents with young children (including me).
And yes, I clearly have a strong opinion on this topic and yes, I’m promoting that opinion. And I will continue to do so with respect for those that feel otherwise. If you have interest in helping further this debate contact me at 408-394-6867.
5:07 PM on September 21st, 2009
First of all, a big congratulation to the Dublin High kids and their teachers. Gaining 40-plus points in just one year was a monumental achievement. I’m sure a lot of determination and hard work was spent on the effort.
I also noticed that some things were overlooked in these blogs. Students do not jump immediately from elementary schools to high schools. It’s the middle schools that will populate the next generation of high schoolers. Dublin’s 2 middle schools’ API aren’t all that high (Fallon @900-commendable but not spectacular-and Wells @796-lots of room for improvement) It’s very unlikely that these middle school kids will suddenly and magically change from being average to good students once they hit high school. Perhaps we should pay more attention to their educational foundation and study habits.
5:11 PM on September 21st, 2009
Just one observation: If you take the average of APIs for Fallon and Wells, you pretty much get the API for Dublin High. I think part of the big jump you see is because Fallon students are starting to play significant roles in the statistics.
1:29 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Didn’t Wells get some kind of award last year? What is that for? The API is apparently decreasing by some.
I agree with you we have to improve Wells a lot in order to see some significant increase in Dublin High API next year. It seems Dublin High is already exploiting the full benefit of inflow of Fallon students this year.
3:24 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Wells was awarded the California Distinguished School Award – for a second time. Note that no schools on the east side have ever received this award and Dougherty the highest performing school in the district has applied for it 3 times. Many schools in the west have received the CA Distinguished School Award with their API scores. Remember that a score of 800 or higher is considered excellent by the State of California but API score do not win awards by themselves.
3:41 PM on September 22nd, 2009
What is it good for this award? Can the school get additional funding because of this? Can the students get into first-rate colleges because of this?
4:05 PM on September 22nd, 2009
It’s an honor and a privilege. It may not get you into a better college but it’s obvious a school of this nature provides students with a well rounded education – a foundation for future success.
In California, there currently exists an “achievement gap” among student subgroups that threatens their future and the future of California. Access to high-quality educational experiences should be the right of every student in California and it is the responsibility of the schools, districts, county offices of education, and the California Department of Education (CDE) to work together toward that end. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has made closing the achievement gap his top priority and strongly believes that making schools work for all students, regardless of their background, condition, or circumstances, is an imperative for a strong education system and a strong California.
The 2010 California School Recognition Program (CSRP) directly focuses on California’s students and their entitlement to an equitable and rigorous education. Under the 2010 CSRP, the California Distinguished Schools Award identifies and honors those schools that have demonstrated educational excellence for all students and progress in narrowing the achievement gap.
In order to be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), and the Academic Performance Index (API) requirements.
Elementary and secondary (middle and high) schools are recognized during alternate years. For the 2010 cycle, eligible elementary schools are invited to participate. The criteria for school selection are based on the submission of an application, including a comprehensive description of two of the school’s successful signature practices, an application review, along with a site visit designed to validate the full implementation of the submitted practices.
Applications are reviewed for completeness by teams of educators from across the state under the direction of the CDE. Applications deemed complete will move forward in the process as a state nominee. Each nominee receives a site visit by a team of educators to validate the full implementation of the submitted practices. The site visits are conducted as a collaborative effort between the CDE and county superintendents of schools.
Schools selected for recognition are honored as Distinguished Schools at an awards ceremony where State Superintendent O’Connell presents each school with a 2010 California Distinguished School plaque and flag. The event and awards are funded by donations from many of California’s most prominent corporations and statewide education organizations.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/proginfo10.asp
4:59 PM on September 22nd, 2009
That’s because Dougherty consistently has high test scores. It’s more difficult to gain, say 10 API points, from 930 to 940 than from 800 to 810. That’s because the last question on any test is always the hardest. If you get the last correct answer, you get an A. If not, you get a B (provided the previous questions were answered correctly). So no, Dougherty did not “improve” as fast at other schools, hence no Distinguished School Award.
Jensen Ranch Elementary in Castro Valley achieved an incredible score of 992(!) last year but still is not a Distinguished School.
By the way Dougherty got 942, Wells has sub-800.
6:32 AM on September 23rd, 2009
Not any more. API is now lower than 800 for Wells. The trend is really a concern here.
10:23 PM on September 22nd, 2009
API, if you’re interested in this number please take the time to research how it is calculated before making assumptions. It is not as simple to understand as it appears.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/documents/calc08bg.xls
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/index.asp
Fallon vs Wells, this comparison is apples vs. oranges. One is a K-8 school. The other is a 6-8th grade middle school. Elementary schools typically have higher API’s than middle schools. Second, there are different programs on each site. These programs create different sub-populations that take the State tests. Depending on these students’ abilities and their program, they could have a large positive or negative effect on the API. There are even different tests with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the student’s abilities. Please don’t get educational programs mixed up with any ethnic or socioeconomic factors. You will really have to dig deep into the data to understand what is going on at these two schools.
8:38 AM on September 23rd, 2009
Yes, I agree with you. Fallon’s API is a lot better than average middle school. The reason is the test API including the elementary. Fallon still has 1-2 classes from Kindergarten to grade 5.
Don’t get me wrong, Fallon is an excellent middle school. Many of the kids get multiple 600 in STAR testing (I know this from facts).
I am very happy with Dublin’s 42 up on API. Anyone knows more details regarding which subject they did well and what other facts to make API up this much? Thanks!
2:21 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Thanks for the link. Lots of info inside.
Do you mean that all 6th or 7th graders from the 2 Dublin middle schools DID NOT take the same standard test? (Except for the students with disablilities, of course.) And that Fallon and Wells are deemed not “similar” according the Board of Education? I did not realize the difference in the social economic factors were so huge that a direct comparison seems unfair.
You were right about comparing API scores of Fallon(K-8) to Wells (6-8). I could not find grade-specific API results on either schools, but there are published 2009 California Standard Test scores which gauge the percentage of students proficient or advanced for their grade level. I don’t really want to publicize the numbers (anybody interested can easily look it up) but be assured that there are rather large disparities in all subjects and grade levels when comparing the two schools.
I am not trying to put down Wells, nor praise Fallon. I just want to point out that in order to have proficient high school students, the district+ the teachers+ the parents must work on their middle school kids. Distiguished School Award or not, there’s clearly an underperforming educational issue present at Wells. If no one recognizes it as a problem, then it won’t get fixed.
4:14 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Totally agree. It seems like some parents always try to find all kind of excuses to prove Wells is as good as Fallon. But in reality, we all know Fallon is much better than Wells academically. As you said, this can be seen from the actual test scores for the same grades.
I also do not understand why this award is such a big deal to them. First, the school does not get additional funding. Second, the students do not improve their test scores. It seems to be a face-saving thing to me.
What those parents really should do is trying to find out why there is an achievement gap between these two schools. As a first step, they should at least not deny the facts.
4:53 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Nonetheless, Fallon’s scores are still lower than the Pleasanton and San Ramon middle schools. Amador Valley HS has the lowest API of the our neighbors at 877. If Fallon were to feed into an East only HS, I would predict the API to be around 860s. DHS’s API will probably max out at 850 if Wells and Fallon continues to feed into it. Is 860 and 850 that big of a difference? Is it worth all this bickering and tension? (All these numbers are just my guesstimation.)
5:10 PM on September 23rd, 2009
This is the way I am looking at: If only Fallon feeds into the high school, the API would be around 880 or higher. If only Wells feeds into the high school, the API would be around 780, which was about where Dublin High used to be. But this is not the point. The point is that there is clearly about 100-point achievement gap between Fallon and Wells and those Wells parents and teachers need to find ways to minimize the gap.
9:56 PM on September 23rd, 2009
You are correct, students with disabilities take different tests depending on their Individualized Education Plan. The California Modified Assessments (CMA) and the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA) Level I, II, or III are all modified tests that students with disabilities take.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/capa.asp
CAPA Link
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/cmastar.asp
CMA Link
DUSD has a wide variety of programs to service students’ needs. It just so happens that the special ed programs are housed on specific campus. All campuses have a Resource Program. This program is for students with mild learning disabilities. Another program is the Mild/Moderate Special Day Classes. The name describes the types of disabilities this program serves. DUSD also has two Special Day Classes for students with Autism. Last, there are the Moderate/Severe Special Day Classes. It is important to note that Dougherty and Green do not have any Special Day Classes on their campuses.
When students with disabilities are on a school campus, they have a tendency to weigh down an API. So not only does it matter if you have SDC classes, it also matters what type of students with disabilities are on enrolled in those SDC classes on campus.
Conversely, some of the SDC programs have students who take the modified assessments and they actually do extremely well. These tests are more geared to general life skills than the CST tests. Thus, these students score well and positively contribute to the overall API.
Furthermore, you can’t really even use the overall percent of Proficient students because if you have a large SDC population this will skew % of overall proficient students lower.
Wells has more SDC classes than Fallon. Armed with these facts you will hopefully understand the big differences may not be so grand once you look at the data at the building, class, or student levels. The schools do have access to building, class, and student level data; however, this is not public information due to FERPA laws. The schools use this information to target instruction and insure proper student placement in all programs.
9:44 AM on September 24th, 2009
The number of students with a disability taking the STAR test for grades 6,7,8 at each school seem to be about the same. However, the number of gifted students taking the STAR test at Fallon seem to be higher.
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2009/SearchPanel.asp
11:10 AM on September 24th, 2009
Thanks for the explanation. If Wells has more-or better- special ed programs, attracting more special needs kids, then the tests results would be skewed as you’d mentioned.
However this doesn’t seem to be the case. The two web links below shows results for kids without reported disabilities. Please copy and paste into your browser if the link doesn’t work.
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2009/ViewReport.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2009&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=0108571&lstGroup=2&lstSubGroup=99
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2009/ViewReport.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2009&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=6066484&lstGroup=2&lstSubGroup=99
Proficiencies are in the high 70′s-low 80′s percentile for Fallon and ~50 for Wells. The way I interpret the data is that for math (worst case for Wells) fully half of each grade does not function at their grade level. This data came from the sub-group “Students without reported disabilities.” It’s disturbing.
1:31 AM on September 25th, 2009
Yes, you are both correct. A misreporting error exists in the Wells’ data for the 2009 school year. We are working on fixing this and the API will be adjusted too. If you click on the Wells link below you will find only 1 student in the 7th grade and 1 student in the 8th grade with a disability. This is completely inaccurate. For instance, look at the 2008 data, these students didn’t just disappear. There seems to be a reporting error that is computer based. For full disclosure, I do work for the school district and have first hand knowledge of this.
Wells 2009 Student’s with disabilities subgroup data
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2009/ViewReport.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2009&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=6066484&lstGroup=2&lstSubGroup=128
Wells 2008 Students with disabilities subgroup data
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2008/ReportPanel.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2008&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=6066484&lstGroup=2&lstSubGroup=128
Granted there are differences, but the differences are not as wide as they seem when looking at the API numbers. A 10-20% difference equates to a 20 to 40 student difference in scores. The question is who are those 20 to 40 students and what are their learning difficulties?
You really have to drill down in to the numbers to see what is going on. There are other factors that explain the differences between Wells and Fallon. For instance, look at the English Learner Populations at both sites. There are more EL students at Wells and their scores are reflected in the overall API. The EL population can explain about half of the percentage difference.
Wells’ 2008 English Learner Population:
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2008/ReportPanel.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2008&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=6066484&lstGroup=10&lstSubGroup=165
Fallon’s 2008 English Learner Population
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2008/ReportPanel.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2008&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=0108571&lstGroup=10&lstSubGroup=165
You can also look at the socio-economic status and parent education levels as well. If you fall into these two sub-group labels, it doesn’t mean students can’t succeed, they just may face more barriers. These reports will further tease out the underlying factors and trends that are replicated around the state. These trends are factors that Fallon teachers may not have to deal with on a large-scale basis, considering their present student population. However, you can easily see that the 20 to 40 students who create the difference in the API may have underlying issues that your own son or daughter may not face.
You’re also correct that for the time being there are more GATE students presently at Fallon. This is due to the fact that the GATE identification standard was much lower about 5 years ago. Since most students qualify for GATE when they are in grades 2-4 DUSD relied on the State testing results to qualify students. A combined (ELA + Math) scale score of 900 typically got you into the program. This meant that students who were scoring in the 450 scale score range, which is considered low advanced (on a scale of 600), were deemed “GATE”. This low bar resulted in an over identification of students. You can see the difference in the GATE star test data link below. Look for the huge GAP between the 4th and 5th grade. Students used to be able to qualify for the GATE program without the use of a standardized cognitive abilities test. Nowadays we use a formula that combines the CogAT and the CST scores. We are recognizing about 10% of our population district wide. This is more in line with the overall identification rate found in the rest of the state. It also aligns with the new standards that the State Board of Education adopted for GATE programs.
http://star.cde.ca.gov/star2008/ReportPanel.asp?ps=true&lstTestYear=2008&lstTestType=C&lstCounty=01&lstDistrict=75093-000&lstSchool=0108571&lstGroup=2&lstSubGroup=99
9:43 AM on September 25th, 2009
I have to say looking at the ‘English Learners’ at Fallon (there’s limited numbers), even 50% of those students are proficient in English.
9:48 PM on September 21st, 2009
This back and forth bickering is really not productive. Why can’t everyone think positively about the opportunities and discuss how it could work? There will always be people who are for an against something, but name calling and being disrespectful just isn’t right. What ever happened to the days of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it”??
6:39 AM on September 22nd, 2009
I haven’t really noticed too many instances of name-calling. Not everyone is going to support this school, and I think most of the people on here that are skeptical of it are giving pretty good arguments, and presenting them in a respectful way. If people don’t support it, they’re not going to talk about ways “how it can work”. I think it’s good to hear all points of view, no matter what you’re personal view is.
9:44 AM on September 22nd, 2009
Hi Anonymous – we encourage different points of view on the Around Dublin Blog. The only caveat is that we ask that folks use factual information and a respectful tone in their comments.
Thx, John Z.
11:20 PM on September 21st, 2009
All this talk about reduce traffic. Won’t West side students still need to commute to the East to attend Tassajara Prep? East side students are not guarantee admissions to the school. Is DLC just trying to be PC, and they don’t truly expect anyone from the West would want to make the commute?
2:03 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Walk into an AP or Honors class at Dublin High, and ask the kids which school they went to, Fallon or Wells? Most will say Wells. My kids went to Fallon and all of their friends went to Wells. There is nothing special about Fallon kids, there are just more poorer kids at Wells bring down the averages. The smart kids are just as smart. East side parents need to get over themselves. There are lots of Fallon kids in lower level classes.
2:27 PM on September 22nd, 2009
I seriously doubt your claim. You may be right for a few AP classes, there may be more Wells students than Fallon. But in general (or on average), the AP participation rate for Fallon students is higher.
3:35 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Poor kids aren’t the reason why API scores are what they are. I can’t believe that comment. If you worked in the education field you would know those with and those without all achieve academic success. There are kids from every economic background in below basic, basic, proficient and advanced. Advanced kids are not only the “rich” kids. I should know. I came from a low income family and while in school took AP classes, graduated 8th in my class, and attended a 4 year university. Just because someone is considered low income does not make them illiterate, uneducated, nor unsuccessful.
5:07 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Can’t agree more. Many Asian immigrants are poor yet they dominate the UC system.
4:21 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Achievement gap between Asian/White and Black/Hispanic did NOT change for years:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/18/BAJS199Q80.DTL&tsp=1
7:50 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Correction: I am a Dublin parent that lives on the East side. I stopped by the booth. I was asked to put a pin in the map because I stopped by and asked questions – I was NOT told that by putting a pin in the map I was indicating support for the 2nd High School.
Fact: I am not in support of this 2nd High School \choice\.
Fact: Everyone who placed a pin in the map does NOT support this 2nd High School \choice\.
9:21 PM on September 22nd, 2009
Let me add another example here – I was vocal in my concerns about this project at the booth (obviously from my comments on this blog). At the booth I was pressed to provide my address so a pin could be placed on the map. I knew the pin map was just a publicity stunt so refused to give my address.
8:47 PM on September 23rd, 2009
To James,
I know of at least one person who put in a pin, but chose not to sign the petition because they disagree. They aren’t saying all the pins represent signatures on their petition, are they?
3:50 PM on September 23rd, 2009
That’s right.
I put my name down to get more information. I neither support nor reject the charter school.
To the charter school officers: please do not mispresent the pins on the map as homes of your supporters. It’s untrue.
11:47 AM on September 24th, 2009
Can anyone refute the following?
* The driving force behind this Charter School idea is the desire to have a second high school located on the East side of town, not to better educate all children.
* The people leading this effort (The Around Dublin team)are primarily without children in the schools who are bent on bringing the East side a high school regardless of whether it makes sense for the majority of kids in Dublin.
3:45 PM on September 24th, 2009
You must be one of those guys who believe in “Death Panels”:-)
4:46 PM on September 24th, 2009
No point in stating the obvious. An East high school can benefit the majority if a major of the population live in the East.
10:56 AM on September 23rd, 2009
How ironic and prophetic that I just received the following email from our congressman. I took out all his requests for contributions and all but one of the references to specific political issues to avoid even more divisiveness on this blog, but everything remaining is word-for-word. His email is very applicable to what’s happening in Dublin over Tassajara Prep. It should give us all a healthy dose of reality when faced with the protests of a few east Dublin residents who do not want the majority of parents on the east side to get what they clearly desire – a high school in east Dublin.
—————————————–
Dear XXX,
Creating change is never easy. I am sure you have seen the news, heard the stories, and you may have driven by a protest or two. America is in a time of great transition, and there are still those who desperately want to keep the status quo, or even shift progress backward. They will stop at nothing, let alone stick to the facts. The time for games is over.
We can make great change happen. You’ve taken the survey, you’ve signed the petition; I depend on your help to make sure we continue our progress.
The other side will stop at nothing to slow us down. These groups will go to any length to prevent progress. I know you have seen that some groups will stop at nothing to oppose reform. It is ridiculous that we are even talking about things like “death panels” that obviously do not exist.
In the face of the misinformation and fear being spread, I am making a call to action. No more accusations and lies. No more disrespectful outbursts!
All profound change is faced with opposition. There is much to do. Change starts with you.
Sincerely,
Congressman Jerry McNerney
2:27 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Whether or not a majority of East Dublin residents want a high school on the East Side – when presented with all the facts – is just opinion. When presented with the facts the majority of the people I have spoken to on the East understand why a second high school (charter or otherwise) doesn’t make sense. I’m sure you’ll argue the opposite point. The reality is neither of us have any scientific basis (meaning market research with a sufficiently large and representative sample). So let’s set that aside.
I have a child in high school – she’ll be done before any of this is settled and off to university. I have a child in elementary school – she will be affected by this outcome and it is my strong belief – not based on fear or lies – that a second high school will result in two small and weaker schools for the simple point I’ve made in other postings. Critical mass of students to offer a full program for both high end students (like my kids – straight A students so far) and more average kids. If you can convince me (no one at Day on the Glen could) that this is a bogus concern please convince me. I have a strong opinion but that doesn’t mean I’m not open to counterarguments. We share a common objective – the best education for our children.
Some facts to consider – here is the size of Dublin High vs. high schools in other neighboring districts that I think we can all agree are excellent schools. Note that I’m not including in this list continuation schools (Dublin has one, Pleasanton has one) and other specialized schools (Pleasanton has a high school for kids who have kids!)
Looking at the numbers below the only school smaller than Dublin High is Dougherty Valley – and that’s mainly because it’s phasing in grades (number on the website was for grades 9-11).
A reality we can all agree on – if Tassajara Prep happens Dublin High School will lose enrolment, have a reduction in funding as a result and have to make cutbacks. That’s not myth or lies – that’s simple math.
So convince me that Dublin as a whole benefits by having two undersized high schools… and how Dublin benefits when one of those high schools (Dublin High) has substantial room for growth and the other high school (Tassajara Prep) lives out of temporary lodging for 3 years minimum.
Isn’t there a rational case to be made
Dublin Unified School District:
Dublin High enrolment: 1450 (website)
Pleasanton Unified School District:
Amador Valley High enrolment: 2600 (website)
Foothill High enrolment: 2100 (website)
San Ramon Unified School District:
San Ramon Valley High enrolment: >2000 (website)
California High enrolment: >2000 (website)
Monte Vista enrolment: >2000 (website)
Dougherty Valley enrolment: 950 (school website; note that this is for grades 9-11 since this is a relatively new school; website doesn’t have updates for grade 12)
Note when San Ramon Unified School District added Dougherty Valley… when they had (you guessed it) critical mass.
2:31 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Hit send too soon – finishing one sentence: “Isn’t there a rational case to be made for a second DUSD-administered high school when critical mass warrants adding a second high school – so that the transition and balance between the two schools can be effectively managed?”
3:39 PM on September 23rd, 2009
I agree with you on the critical mass evaluation. I also think planning for that critical mass at Dublin High should start immediately, not waiting for Dublin High to have 2000 students before contemplating a second high school. It’s simply planning for growth. We all know how statisticians always underestimate the population growth rate the tri-valley. A perfect example is Doughery Elementary built for 550 students, now supporting 700 using add-on portable class rooms. When publicly pressed, the board blamed it on statistician consultants. The consultant firm should be payed pro-rated to their calculation accuracy. Either way, a quater of Dougherty student body, including my child, goes to school everyday in one of those portables due to someone’s underestimation. Whose responsibility’s is it? Nobody’s. Heads would roll if this scenerio happened in a business setting.
5:07 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Now that is an excellent suggestion. I’m very interested in what those supporting the charter school concept think of a DUSD driven plan that acknowledges the need for a second high school, situated east, at a point in time when the critical mass is there. I agree this has to be planned years ahead.
If a longer-term plan that included a second high school was driven by DUSD there wouldn’t be all the downside of a temporary facility. I can see a temporary facility for an elementary school – where it is single classroom. Or maybe a middle school. But a high school? A temporary facility without sports facilities, without a theater, without A/V facilities – a temporary high school with just classrooms seems like a significant price to pay for… for what? Being a few minutes closer? (that may not be realistic – the options on the east side are limited to none) Being a better school? (that’s a hard argument to make with Dublin High being completely rebuilt by 2013 and API scores rising – and now very respectable).
There can then be a very valuable debate on forecasts – when do we hit that point? Never? seems unlikely… but is it 5 years? 10 years? 15 years? I haven’t seen a forecast that takes Dublin High from 1450 students (this year’s enrolment) to >2000 in 3 years (the planned opening of Tassajara Prep).
My motivation in this debate is for everyone to take a step back and understand that a charter school is not a panacea – the first leaving class of a charter high school will pay a price because of the temporary location. Dublin High will pay a price because of the reduced enrolment. There is no guarantee Tassajara Prep’s temporary location will be in East Dublin – in fact there is a high likelihood it won’t be in East Dublin because the three East Dublin schools are full and / or not appropriate as high schools.
1:06 PM on September 29th, 2009
James has a good point about available facilities. The only vacant facility that I know of that would be available for a “temporary” site is the old Neilson Elementary. Even farther west than Dublin High. At least if/when that was offered to the Prep folks their true intentions would be unmasked. This proposal is entirely related to geography. Has nothing to do with quality of education.
2:32 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Mr. Zukoski, I understand you are one of the Board members (Treasurer?) for the Dublin Learning Corporation (DLC), the non-profit organization behind the Tassajara Prep. From what I’ve been reading, you still miss a few members. Is there a specific number you’re aiming at? How do you choose the Board members? Can anyone apply to become a board member?
Also I’d like to know how the DLC will be involved with Tassajara Prep, the public school; i.e. what the role of DLC is going to be once the school opens. Is it going to function like DPIE?
I’m very impressed with your credentials and I believe the DLC is lucky to have you on board.
Thanks.
10:11 PM on September 23rd, 2009
Hi 4fairness – please feel free to email the founders at admissions@dublinlearning.org with a bit more information about yourself, why you’d like to join, and what you’ll be able to contribute towards the project to bring a college prep high school to east Dublin.
Thx, John Z.
8:36 AM on September 24th, 2009
Thank you Mr. Zukoski,
I wasn’t necessarily thinking about myself…just curious about the process. I’m sure there are lots of interested people to work with you on the board:) Besides, I would like to be more informed on the mission and role of the DLC, in relation to Tassajara Prep, before I can take a stand on the whole issue (although I believe it will provide another -hopefully secular – option to the community).
7:26 PM on September 24th, 2009
To “Anonymous, 12:44 PM on September 24th, 2009″
You said:
“I am not a Dublin resident, but from these kids who went to Dublin High (mind you this happened years ago as these “kids” are now in their late 20’s), they tell tales of being singled out, bullied, and labeled as freaks and abnormal. The school system were geared to push them down rather than encouraging their learning process.
One of them had to catch a bus after school to attend the community college in order to satisfy UC’s entrance requirement because Dublin High did not offer these classes. All this without the parents’ (poor and uneducated) and the teachers’( couldn’t care less, spent most of the time disciplining other kids) involvement and support.”
I am a Dublin High grad, and I’m in my late 20s, and I have to respond to your comments. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA, had a fairly decent SAT score, and I took a few AP classes, so I may have had classes with the people you’re talking about. I graduated from UCSB. I didn’t have to take any classes at a JC to satisfy requirements. I don’t remember anyone else having to do this either. Can you elaborate on which class this person had to take that was not offered at Dublin? Just curious.
9:50 PM on September 25th, 2009
Having a charter school doesn’t equate to having good teaching practices. Take for instance the Livermore Valley Charter School. It resides in the same neighborhood in south Livermore as Emma C Smith http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/AcntRpt2009/2009GrowthSch.aspx?cYear=2005-06&allcds=01-612006001259 and Sunset Elementary Schools http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/AcntRpt2009/2009GrowthSch.aspx?cYear=2005-06&allcds=01-612006097661 . Both LVJUSD public schools are above 900 API points.
The charter school, who doesn’t have any English language learners, is losing ground. Their API score is 866. http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/AcntRpt2009/2009GrowthSch.aspx?allcds=01763720107839 This is a 34 point difference, less than Dublin El, and without any real students in subgroups that would have challenges. Dublin residents, do you really want the Livermore charter school helping you start your school? Not a great track record.
4:00 PM on September 27th, 2009
For what it’s worth (and this is not in support of nor against Tassajara Prep), according to the recent Mayor’s report (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlmmURD2LgE&feature=autofb), taking the public bus system from eastern Dublin to DHS is a 34 minute route with 12 stops.
4:10 PM on September 27th, 2009
Hi Anonymous – you beat me to the punch! We’ll be publishing an article about this tomorrow.
Thx, John Z.
10:38 AM on September 29th, 2009
where is this school ? address?
11:52 AM on September 29th, 2009
Come on, did you actually read the article?
1:42 PM on October 2nd, 2009
Can Tassajara Prep release space from Querry Lane?
1:44 PM on October 2nd, 2009
Sorry, I meant lease not release.
1:42 PM on October 2nd, 2009
Can Tassajara Prep lease space from Querry Lane?
11:11 AM on November 4th, 2009
I’m really confused by the “needs” of new charter school. Is it actually for “quality education”? Is it because there is “only 1 high school” in Dublin? Is it because 10 minutes is too far to drive? What is it? I have attended the town hall meetings and still am unclear as to the motivation.
DHS is an excellent school with numerous opportunities to advance. It’s current API is 842! Multiple AP classes are available and the ability to exceed in classes and learning are there. Has anyone interested in the prep school even looked at Dublin High and the opportunities there? I am skeptical that a parent of a 1 year old child or someone that has no children has even stepped foot on the campus or educated themselves as to the opportunities currently available at DHS, as well as those in the future.
Is anyone aware that there are actually 3 high schools in Dublin? If you are truly involved in the community and have done some research you would know that we have Dublin High, Valley Christian and Quarry Lane School, right there on Tassajara. Quarry Lane School has K-12 preparatory programs with academic track programs. Is this not good enough for our community?
Last year’s DHS graduating class has a large number of students attending a wide variety of universities. USC, UCLA, Berkeley, Davis, Stanford, private, public, etc. If we were not providing our students with a quality education at Dublin High then our students would not be able to get into UCLA, which has an average entrance GPA for 2009 of 4.35! And yes, students of DHS are going to UCLA!
Tassajara Prep states it will provide “a high level of parent participation and influence”. If you currently have students in the DUSD, how active are you now? Where are you? I have attended the majority of PFSO meetings at all my children’s schools for over 13 years. Again, where are you? I can tell you that it is the same involved 15-20 parents that attend the meetings and are active. If you aren’t involved now then what is going to change for you to make you participate at Tassajara Prep? Participation is participation no matter where you go.
It is unfortunate that the time and energy being put into this project isn’t going to elevate our local high school even further.
We can achieve greater success if we work together. We are, after all, one city…regardless of whether you live in the east or the west.
3:03 PM on November 4th, 2009
Forgive my rudeness… To me, UCLA is just so so. Is UCLA the best school DHS students can get into? How many students can get into UCLA or better every year in DHS?
BTW, charter school is still pretty much free. So between those expensive private high schools and traditional public high schools, charter school offers another alternative for some parents.
3:59 PM on November 4th, 2009
Is UCLA the best school DHS kids can get into? No. A few kids went to Berkeley, and that doesn’t count kids that were accepted but decided to go elsewhere. What is your opinion of Berkeley? Still not good enough?
5:17 PM on November 4th, 2009
It is truly unfortunate that you are missing an important point.
Of course DHS had students from the class 2009, 2008, 2007, etc. get into many universities around the state, around the country at both public and private schools. UCLA was just an example I used to express the fact that the average GPA’s are high for admittance and students at DHS are meeting those. Berkeley had an average GPA for 2009 of 4.33, UC Davis 3.85-4.01, UCSB 4.01, UC Irvine 4.0. These are just to name a few and yes, DHS students are going to these colleges.
If you would like some actual statistics of DHS graduates and which colleges they are attending, I am sure you can get that from DHS. This is the type of information that is recorded and I’m pretty sure they have that information. I don’t have this(sorry!) However, don’t forget that not all students go straight to a university from high school. Many may not due to financial reasons or just plain not being ready. My son is a great example of this. He could have been accepted to a private college but chose, on his own, to take classes at a local JC and later transfer. Why? So tuition would not be a factor and he would not have outrageous student loans after graduation. Pretty mature thinking for an 18 year old. This is the type of stuff that will not be reflected on statistical data as to how many DHS students got into the top 25 or 50 universities.
All I ask of folks contemplating sending their child to a charter school in Dublin is arm yourself with knowledge. Don’t listen to me (which you won’t anyways), don’t listen to the few who are trying to set this thing up. Go forth and seek information about Dublin schools on your own. Go to school board meetings, talk to parents who have children in schools in Dublin, speak with students who attend DHS, go to PFSO meetings at DHS, etc. Do your own homework.
If I truly felt that my children were unable to get their needs met at DHS because DUSD did not offer advanced classes and give the students the support or quality education needed to continue onto some top ranking universities around the country, then I would certainly be in support of a charter school. However, this isn’t the case and the only way you’ll truly know that is to investigate it yourself.
Both my children, a 2009 DHS graduate and a current DHS senior, have attended DUSD schools their entire life. I have been pleased with the quality of their education and had ample opportunity to move them to other schools, if needed. I have never felt that need. Sure, there have been small issues along the way but that will occur no matter which type of school one attends.
Lastly, charter school is free. Hmmmm. Again, arm yourself with information. That is what supporters want you to believe but nothing is free in this world. Pretty new buildings(pamphlet photo) with extensive programs cost money.
9:26 PM on November 4th, 2009
Well, at least charter school does not cost nearly as much as private high schools. I do not mind if I have to make a few thousand dollars donation every year in order to have higher quality programs/education.
7:39 PM on November 5th, 2009
First what school did you attend since UCLA is a so so school. I am a graduate of Dublin High Class of 2009 and I KNOW almost everyone in my class personally! My friend Kenneth Lim was put on the waiting list a HARVARD University, NOT because he wasn’t good enough, but because of our tough economic times which caused Harvard to lessen it’s acceptance rate. He attends UCLA and is also an National Merit Scholar. A current Dublin High Senior missed two questions on her SAT’s, must of had really crappy education at Dublin because if she attended a charter she most definitely would have got those two she missed, right?
I myself could have attended USC or any school of my choice but I knew I would be paying in student loans for years and I’m not going to pay outrageous rates to get the same education when I can get my G.E. at a community college, transfer, and have the SAME EXACT DEGREE. Not very educated for someone who went to Dublin is it?
If the people who support the charter say Dublin isn’t a tight nit community, I say why not have a vote? The people who are REALLY part of the community will show you that the real Dublin community doesn’t want it. For god sake a bunch of you people who want the charter don’t even have kids old enough to be in school. HOW THE HELL do you know how good Dublin Schools are?
I would LOVE to have a debate with you in front of people, I will show you with my words and knowledge that Dublin High DOES give you good education, DOES give you college course classes, DOES prepare you and offers the BEST education with use of technology and AMAZING teachers.
Just a little fun fact for all you edumakated(yes educated), in a public school you CAN’T pay a teach on merit!
Words of a PROUD 18 year old Dublin High Alumni.
4:06 PM on November 4th, 2009
Do you have any statistical data for how many DHS students getting into top 25 universities (based on US News & World Report ranking) every year for the last three or five years? Any statistical data for how many students getting into top 50 universities? Thanks.
6:40 PM on November 4th, 2009
Hi Anonymous,
You can make a Public Records Act request to Kim Vanner at the DUSD office for the data you are interested in. Below are her contact information:
Phone: (925)828-2551 x8084
email: vannerkim@dublin.k12.ca.us
Good luck.
9:27 PM on November 4th, 2009
Thanks a lot for the information.
2:10 PM on November 5th, 2009
You can go to the Dublin High Website http://www.dhs.dublin.k12.ca.us for information. When you get to the DHS website, click on counseling (left in blue), then click on counseling data. Scroll down on that page and you will see DHS Class of 2009 data. It includes information on where DHS seniors were applying, SAT and ACT mean stats. I have asked the counseling secretary to please add stats for Class of 2008 and 2007. They will try to get this up next week. The person with the data was out of the office.
This will show you which universities the seniors plan on attending, as well as where they applied to. It also includes other life plans. Please remember that many students are attending a local JC. This is not necessarily because they could not get into a university but because of many other factors, such as financial, family issues, not ready to move away from family, not sure which career, etc. Many teens I know plan on transferring on to universities after JC but stayed local for two years due to financial reasons.
I believe this topic was brought up at the DUSD board meeting Tuesday night. Some of the stats were possibly covered. You can watch the meeting on Ch. 28 when they air it.
Mayor Sbranti and city council has also been actively discussing a direct bus route to DHS from east dublin with the local bus company. It was discussed at Dublin City Council meeting (Nov. 3, 09) and can also be viewed on Ch. 28. Sounds like it is a great possibility, would cut the bus ride time in half and could be effective in February.
Hope this information helps!
3:23 PM on November 5th, 2009
I forgot more info.
Check out on the DHS website under the same counseling area already described, the DHS profile. There you will see more stats and also the fact the the Class of 2009 had 4 students in the National Merit Scholarship competition. 2 were commended students and 2 were finalists.
You can also view the 2008/09 Support personnel accountability Report card.
5:08 PM on November 5th, 2009
Thanks a lot for the information. I will check the link when I get chance.
5:14 PM on November 5th, 2009
of the 313 students, the only top tier universities are berkeley (5) and ucla (6).
not impressed. even schools in oakland send that many students there every year.
5:54 PM on November 5th, 2009
The following is what I got from the link. I would say I am not impressed at all. Most of the students go to community colleges. Very few go to the top 25 or even top 50 universities. This again proves the just above average quality of DHS.
DHS Class of 2009 Senior Exit Survey Results
Graduating Class- 333
Surveys Completed-313
*4 Undecided *1 Beginning an apprenticeship
*1 Doing missionary work *5 Enlisting in the military
*2 Working full time *6 attending Vocational/Technical Schools
*172 attending various Community Colleges
*43 attending the following CSU Campuses:
1- Sonoma 2-Cal Poly S.L.O. 1- Fresno
5-San Jose 3-Sacramento 5-San Diego
6-East Bay 8-San Francisco 3-Chico
2- Cal Poly Pomona 5- Monterey Bay 1-Sonoma
1-Dominguez Hills
*36 attending the following UC Campuses:
2-Santa Barbara 7-Davis 5- Santa Cruz
2- Merced 6- Los Angeles 6-Riverside
2- Irvine 5- Berkeley 1-San Diego
*43 attending the following Private or Out of State Schools:
Brigham Young University- 5 Biola University
University of Detroit-Mercy University of Texas
Curry College, MA Clarke College, IA
California Lutheran University Holy Names University- 2
Columbia College, IL UNLV
St. Mary’s College- 4 SF School of Digital Film
Expressions College FIDM
Bethune-Cookman University University of Missouri
Southern Oregon University University of the Pacific- 2
Lewis and Clark College- 2 Santa Clara University
Michigan State- 2 Hampton University
University of Idaho American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Rocky Mountain College Menlo College
Ateneo de Manila University Point Loma Nazarene University
Florida A & M Arizona State University
Mt. Union College, OH Sam Houston State University
DHS Students were also accepted to the following colleges and universities:
All UC and CSU Campuses New York University
University of Oregon University of Southern California
Pepperdine University University of Washington
University of Puerto Rico Northwestern Christian University
University of Hawaii LaSalle University
McDaniels College Colby-Sawyer College
Dominican College Harris-Stowe University
Dillard University Tennessee State
Morgan State Boston University
New York University University of Okalahoma
Mississippi State University of San Francisco
University of Washington University of Colorado
Azusa Pacific Trinity Western University
Wartburg University Chapman University
University of Alabama Western Washington University
California Baptist University Stephen F. Austin State University
University of Houston Carnegie Mellon
Whitmann College
6:44 PM on November 5th, 2009
As a comparison, this is what I got for Class 2008 for 4 high schools in San Ramon Valley School District. The total number of high school graduating seniors is probably around 2000-2500 (by my estimate). One observation is that they have students going to Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, UP, MIT, you name it), DHS does not have any for Class 2009.
Where our students attend college – Class of 2008
University of California:
Berkeley 52 Riverside 19
Davis 80 San Diego 32
Irvine 22 Santa Barbara 46
Los Angeles 43 Santa Cruz 57
Merced 10
California State Universities/Colleges:
Bakersfield 0 San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) 47
Channel Islands 1 San Marcos 1
Chico 76 Monterey Bay 10
Dominquez Hills 0 Northridge 11
East Bay 14 Pomona (Cal Poly) 4
Fresno 6 Sacramento 8
Fullerton 15 San Diego 46
Humboldt 1 San Francisco 42
Long Beach 7 Sonoma 36
San Jose 27 Stanislaus 1
California Independent Universities/Colleges:
Stanford University 6 USC 14
University of the Pacific 4 Azusa Pacific 3
St. Mary’s, Moraga 7 Santa Clara 5
Loyola Marymount 17 USF 5
Chapman 6 Others 30
Out of State Universities/Colleges include:
Air Force Academy, U. Alabama, American U., Arizona, ASU, Auburn, Baylor, Bentley, Berklee College of Music, Boise St., Boston U., Brandeis, BYU (Utah & Idaho), U. British Columbia, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Case W. Reserve, Coll. of Charleston,
Chicago Art. Inst., U. Cincinnati, Colgate, Columbia U. & College, U. Colorado & State, Cornell, Drexel, Fordham, Franklin & Marshall, Georgetown, Geo.Washington U., Gonzaga, Grambling, Harvard, U. Hawaii, Hofstra U., Indiana, U. Kansas, No. Kentucky, Lewis & Clark, Linfield Coll., Mesa St., SMU, Miami of Ohio, U. Miami, Michigan State, MIT, Montana St., U. Nebraska, U. Nevada Reno, N’western, Notre Dame, NYU, Oberlin, So. Oregon, U. Oregon, Oregon State, W. Oregon,
Paradise Vly., Parsons School/Design, Prescott, U. of & Portland St., U. Penn., Pratt Inst., Princeton, U. Puget Sound, Purdue, Rhode Is. School of Design, U. Redlands, Rice, Richmond AMU, Roanoke, Smith, U. South Carolina, Spelman Collegee, St. John’s, Syracuse, Temple U., So.Utah, U. Utah, Utah Valley, U. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Villanova, So. Virginia, School of Visual Arts, Wake Forest, U. Washington & State, Wellesley, West Point, Wheelock, Willamette, Wm. & Mary, U. Wisconsin, Yale, Brook U. (Ontario), McGill U. (Quebec), U. St. Andrews (Scotland), U. of Geneva Switzerland), U. Kent (England)
9:22 PM on November 10th, 2009
Hello All – I found out today that general Public Records Act requests should be directed to the Dublin Unified School District Superintendent’s office, either in writing or via e-mail at fischershelley@dublin.k12.ca.us. If requests are e-mailed, “Public Records Act Request” should be typed in the subject line to ensure proper delivery.
Requests can also be faxed to 925.829.6532 and then the request(s) will get forwarded on to the proper individual/department.
If a parent would like to request student information or records, they can contact their child’s school office. Here’s a link to a PDF with the DUSD school contacts:
http://www.dublin.k12.ca.us/pages/uploaded_files/District%20Phone%20Summary%20All%20Sites%202009-10.pdf
Thx, John Z.
6:49 PM on November 5th, 2009
In response to the person not impressed with where DHS kids are going to college:
First off, you have no idea exactly why so many kids go to the JC first. Some are due to average grades and test scores, sure. But some are also due to economic factors. Have you seen the average tuition rates of those “top tier” schools? Good god! Those top tier private schools average yearly tuition can get into the mid $30K range. The UC system is much more affordable, but it’s still very difficult for many families to afford to send their kid to a 4-year school. If those families have more than one kid? I don’t need to go into it. Bottom line, you don’t know if a lot of those kids were able to get into better schools, but just couldn’t afford it.
You know? Those kids might actually be smarter than most. Transferring to a UC later on and saving thousands while others start their careers $100K in debt from their precious private education.
9:31 PM on November 5th, 2009
Not true if you can get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. The schools offer free tuition on need basis for families with income less than 180K.
10:04 PM on November 5th, 2009
Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Columbia offer free tuition to incomes under $60K, not $180K. Huge difference.
10:33 PM on November 5th, 2009
You are right. I am not so accurate. For families earning 120K to 180K, they will pay 10 percent of their yearly earnings to send a child to Harvard according to the following article.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aWq9KoEaxM2g
But the point is that it is not that unaffordable as claimed by some people here. All these Ivy League schools are trying to make themselves more and more affordable.
7:43 PM on November 5th, 2009
I’m posting again down at the bottom in case people don’t go up a little to read all the post:
First what school did you attend since UCLA is a so so school. I am a graduate of Dublin High Class of 2009 and I KNOW almost everyone in my class personally! My friend Kenneth Lim was put on the waiting list a HARVARD University, NOT because he wasn’t good enough, but because of our tough economic times which caused Harvard to lessen it’s acceptance rate. He attends UCLA and is also an National Merit Scholar. A current Dublin High Senior missed two questions on her SAT’s, must of had really crappy education at Dublin because if she attended a charter she most definitely would have got those two she missed, right?
I myself could have attended USC or any school of my choice but I knew I would be paying in student loans for years and I’m not going to pay outrageous rates to get the same education when I can get my G.E. at a community college, transfer, and have the SAME EXACT DEGREE. Not very educated for someone who went to Dublin is it?
If the people who support the charter say Dublin isn’t a tight nit community, I say why not have a vote? The people who are REALLY part of the community will show you that the real Dublin community doesn’t want it. For god sake a bunch of you people who want the charter don’t even have kids old enough to be in school. HOW THE HELL do you know how good Dublin Schools are?
I would LOVE to have a debate with you in front of people, I will show you with my words and knowledge that Dublin High DOES give you good education, DOES give you college course classes, DOES prepare you and offers the BEST education with use of technology and AMAZING teachers.
Also if you compare us to San Ramon, Foothill, and other school around the area, just remember they have a lot more people then we do.
Just a little fun fact for all you edumakated(yes educated), in a public school you CAN’T pay a teach on merit!
Words of a PROUD 18 year old Dublin High Alumni.
7:46 PM on November 5th, 2009
And for the people who respond with anonymous at least have the HUEVOS to state your name. If you don’t know what that means then maybe you need to go back to school.
Graduate of Dublin High Class 2008
7:57 PM on November 5th, 2009
These are the universities where the students decided to attend. It does not mean that students did not apply to the more prestigious universities you so desire. It does not mean that these kids did not get into these same schools.
Did you bother to look at the other information on the DHS site? Did you take a look at the SAT and ACT mean scores? If you did, you would see that the DHS Class of 2009 exceeded both state and national test scores. Is this not important?
Looking only at universities that the children attend doesn’t give you the overall picture. Where on that list does it mention DHS National Merit Scholarship finalists (as previously mentioned)? Isn’t this an important measurement?
Your condescending attitude towards our bright and talented group of students from DHS is insulting. Many worked very hard to achieve high grades. Just because they chose not to attend a “prestigious university” certainly does not mean that they are not capable.
10:24 PM on November 5th, 2009
Sorry that I probably said something offensive to some people here. I do not mean to belittle the efforts or the future of DHS students. I was just trying to state some facts from the statistics (maybe not in a not-so-elegant way).
Regarding SAT scores, yes, DHS is higher than state or national average. However, they are still about 20-30 points lower than Pleasanton high schools for each of the three categories: READING (520+ vs 550+), WRITING (520+ vs 550+), MATH(560+ vs 580+). You can do some research to verify this.
8:36 PM on November 5th, 2009
I don’t think this issue is about “quality education” and whether or not you can get this in Dublin. After reading so many blogs, listening at town hall meetings, talking to various citizens, I’ve come to a couple conclusions.
1. Some people feel it is too far to drive to the local high school from the east side. Did you know that it is pretty much the same distance from Schaeffer Ranch(west side) as it is from east Dublin?
2. Sales persons possibly misled some folks contemplating a Dublin purchase that a second high school was going to be built. If anyone out there heard this or thought this then you apparently didn’t do your homework. A measure was passed by the citizens of Dublin years ago. It was decided then that we, as a community, wanted one state of the art high school that could provide a high level of education to our young citizens by pooling our resources. The high school would be built to hold a large capacity of students (over 2K, I think)One high school would allow us to have more AP classes and better prepare our students for top universities. This information was available for all. You just had to ask the right people.
3. Some people who purchased 1-2 million dollar homes feel they “deserve” their own high school. I actually read this on this blog site. Not exactly the close community feel that Tassajara Prep is professing to be. But then maybe it is. Only it will be the east Dublin close community. To hell with the rest of Dublin. Why move to Dublin if you feel you “deserve” more than the rest of the community? By the way, west Dublin also has million dollar homes and you don’t hear anyone over there professing to “deserve” anything.
To the open minded citizens of Dublin, we are one community. Camp Parks does split us in half a bit but we are one really great diverse community. Because of this our students are well rounded, open minded and ready for the real world. If only the adults in this community could be the same way.
11:13 AM on November 6th, 2009
Yes, let’s open-mind adults think about this. How does building a school divide a community really? Hmmm….
We already have many elementary schools. Looks fine there…
We already have two middle schools. Looks fine there…
How’s that logic work again? I’m sorry that you think camp parks somehow divided us, sorry but that’a weak excuse. We are a citizen of Dublin period.
10:21 PM on November 6th, 2009
If you notice their are many elementary schools as you stated which funnel into two middle schools which goes into one giant high school which easily has much more room. This helps people meet new people every time the move up in school and creates a stronger community. If we had two high schools it would create rivalry between the two schools like Amador/Foothill and Livermore/Granada.
The people of the community decided already they wanted to put the money into 1 high school so we weren’t divided, friends wouldn’t be split from their old friends on east and west side, and so we could try and have half as many kids at Dublin High as bigger schools like foothill.
10:46 PM on November 8th, 2009
Wow, sounds like a bottleneck/pyramind system to me. Right!
9:26 PM on November 5th, 2009
To the people who are not impressed that DUSD students attend the UC’s and Cal State universities and are comparing DUSD college choices with those of neighboring school districts: We have had Dublin High graduates attend Yale, Cornell, Stanford, USF, BYU,University of Pacific, St. Mary’s as well as other prominent universities. You cannot compare the totals of 4 high schools of SRV with just one in DUSD. You must also consider that the social economics of Dublin are not as affluent as some of our neighboring cities. Just because many of the Dublin students could not afford or justify the costs of an Ivy League or private school education when more demanding needs have to be taken care of to maintain a standard of living, it does not mean DHS students could not or did not get accepted.
You may not be impressed with what Dublin High has to offer because you may only be looking at statistics, but the majority of us who have been or are actively involved definitely feel pride in Dublin High. Try visiting the school and speak with the students, graduates, and staff.
6:53 PM on November 6th, 2009
I am still not seeing how having a charter school that accepts students from all of Dublin will hurt Dublin High School and destroy our city. So far, all I see are good things. The fact that Tassajara Prep is moving forward has motivated the school board to look at elevating their standards and awarding special distinctions to students who push themselves academically — something they flatly rejected in less than a year ago. Think about it.
8:25 PM on November 6th, 2009
Hi Anonymous,
On February 18, 2009, we wrote an article on the controversy of the Advanced Diploma:
Should Dublin Have an Advanced Diploma for High School Students?
As we noted in that article, the DUSD already has a “Diploma with Distinction” to recognize Dublin High School students that receive all Cs or better and high scores on the California state exams. While the “Diploma with Distinction” was viewed by most parents as a move in the right direction, many felt it did not go far enough to motivate students to challenge themselves. Back then the DUSD Board of Trustees voted 3-2 against further exploration of the “Advanced Diploma” concept. Board Trustees Ledahl, Henry, and Cunningham felt that the DUSD should focus on cost-cutting measures and developing classes to support the new Dublin High School graduation requirements.
On October 13, 2009, the DUSD Board of Trustees approved the “Advanced Diploma” program by a 5-0 vote. As covered by Eric Louie of Contra Costa Times, “the new Advanced Scholars Diploma will be given to students meeting requirements they will likely need for admission into the University of California or California State University systems.” For more on this unexpected reversal by the DUSD Board of Trustees, here is the link to the full article:
Dublin creates new diploma for higher achievers
This decision is another move in the right direction that will benefit all of Dublin and its students.
8:39 PM on November 6th, 2009
Very good point! I do not see how choice and competition will be bad for our community. It already brings benefits to the community now that DUSD is trying very hard to improve the quality of DHS in order to be more competitive.
12:31 PM on November 6th, 2009
Even so. I don’t think you get it that many families in Dublin still would not be able to afford those scaled down tuition costs of Ivy league and private schools when families are struggling to just take care of current expenses. And the related costs of books, misc. fees and airfare are additional burdens.
12:52 PM on November 6th, 2009
Do not use this as an excuse. Do you know how many DHS Class 2009 students got admitted into Ivy League schools but did not go at the end? One or two or any at all? Some statistical data would be more convincing rather than just arguing about affordability. Keep in mind there are still a lot of families in Dublin can afford it with grants from those Ivy League schools.
Here are some data from Princeton University as an example. You can see almost 100% of their students got their financial aid needs met and average grant size is $31K (almost enough to cover tuition).
Financial Aid
Of all full-time matriculated undergraduates who enrolled in 2007, 2,842 applied for aid, 2,572 were judged to have need, 2,572 had their need fully met. 780 Federal Work-Study jobs (averaging $1330). 959 state and other part-time jobs (averaging $1263)
Average percent of need met: 100%
Average financial aid package: $32,707
Average need-based gift aid: $31,351
Average indebtedness upon graduation: $5955
Cost and Financial Aid
Costs (2008-09)
Comprehensive Costs: $45,695 includes full-time tuition ($34,290) and room and board ($11,405)
Room and board: College room only: $6205. Room and board charges vary according to board plan
Payment plans: Installment, deferred payment
Waivers: Employees or children of employees
4:48 PM on November 6th, 2009
USF, BYU,University of Pacific, St. Mary’s…these schools are consider prominent universities? I highly doubt anyone who got into Harvard would choose to go to a JC. At the very least they would go to a UC, which would have been reflected in the UC statistics.
5:43 PM on November 6th, 2009
You people realize how many students were admitted to Harvard last year? A little over 2,000 out of nearly 30,000 applications. What are the odds here? You know, if one kid in last year’s graduating class was accepted into Harvard, some of you would say “that’s all”? If two kids were admitted into Ivy League schools, the same thing would be said. Good lord, some of you people are such snobs.
5:53 PM on November 6th, 2009
There are many Ivy League schools, not just Harvard. Harvard is used as an example for discussions. The point is that San Ramon Valley High Schools send quite a few students to Ivy League schools every year, but DHS does not have any (at least for Class 2009). How can you claim DHS offers very high quality of education if that is the case?
6:46 PM on November 6th, 2009
First off, can you tell me exactly how many San Ramon kids go to Ivy League schools? From the post above about the SR schools, it doesn’t have an amount. Second, the person above estimated that there were 2000 graduating seniors in San Ramon. There were 333 Dublin graduates. Do you call this a fair comparison?
8:56 PM on November 6th, 2009
Well, if I am a resident of San Ramon, I would probably ask for more detailed data. But I am not.
All right, it is unfair in terms of absolute numbers to compare 313 DHS seniors with 2000 SRV High School seniors. But let’s look at it this way: Assume they have just one student going to each of the listed Ivy League schools, total number of students going to Ivy League schools (defined as top 15 universities nationally) is 15 or so for about 2000 seniors. They would have 2 going to Ivy League schools for 313 seniors (assuming percentage of students going to Ivy League schools remain the same). This compares with 0 for DHS. Now, is this a fair comparison? Please note that this is a very conservative estimate because I only assume one student for each listed Ivy League school.
10:24 AM on November 8th, 2009
Since when the IVY League Schools were defined as top 15 universities nationally? Just a curiosity. Specifically, when people started to include MIT or Stanford to be a part of the IVY League which is specifically referred to the 8 schools in the Northeast of our country?
The fact is that the IVY does not define the excellence of high quality education or even the excellence of academic reputation. Non-IVY schools like Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Amherst, Swarthmore, Duke, or Vanderbilt (just name a few) do have high academic standard and excellence. And, among the public ones in California, UCB, UCLA, (and UCSD to some degree) do have high standard to ‘public’ high school students from California.
My point is that comparing high schools by the standard of which schools they go to is less objective than comparing the schools by the statistics. And for that matter, DHS has been academically inferior to our neighborhood schools. That’s also a fact.
Numbers do not have any power of being rudeness, but if you mix with the ‘nameplates’ of the universities, then that offends many people who believe that some of the universities they know are better than some others without knowing even what IVY League means.
The bottom line is in general California public education is at most so-so or worse than most other states, and DHS is not on par with neighboring high schools. And, having another school or backers of DHS to focus more on academics is nothing wrong, and in fact should be encouraged for the better future of California.
7:32 PM on November 8th, 2009
Let’s not pick on the exact definition of Ivy League schools. I believe the poster meant top universities in the US or Ivy League kind of universities. If I am picky, I can point out your mentioning of Amherst, Swarthmore as top universities is probably not so accurate either. So do not focus on small details but on the key point. Is that fair enough?
But I agree with your conclusions at the end.
8:50 PM on November 8th, 2009
I think that the increase in API to 842 compared to 798 (I think?) the previous year shows that DHS is committed to academics and is improving year after year.
1:03 PM on November 9th, 2009
If you want to view API scores for any school in the county, neighboring county or state, go to http://www.api.cde.ca.gov.
You will see that DHS had the largest increase in score (44 points) from 2008-2009 than (I think) any high school in the county and maybe even CoCo county. Many high schools had an increase of less than 15 points in that same time.
Cal High, Dougherty Valley, Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley High, Amador, Foothill, Acalanes, Campolindo, Las Lomas, Miramonte high all have a higher student population. Pleasanton schools are almost double the size of DHS.
4:59 PM on November 9th, 2009
A couple of reasons for that: First, the contribution of Fallon Middle School students is getting more and more significant; Second, the increase in API score is getting harder and harder for a higher basis. For example, it is almost impossible for a high school with API score of 900 to increase another 20-30 points every year.
Anyway, it is a very good thing that API score for DHS increased a lot last year. It is already a good selling point for some real estate brokers:-) But at the same time, we need to be careful to wish for another big increase next year. If API score for DHS can get to around 880 in the next couple of years, I think the whole issue of second high school would be muted.
7:27 PM on November 9th, 2009
I am so sick and tired of East Dublin people who think their kids are better than the rest. Instead of your constant whining, please take the time to read what the DUSD said officially about the rise in test scores:
http://www.dublin.k12.ca.us/vnews/display.v/ART/4aaf146e960aa
“We attribute our ongoing success to the District’s clear vision and shared commitment to achieving excellence.”
DUSD said nothing about how the increase in API score is the result of higher test scores from kids who attended Fallon Middle School. Rather, the rise is the result of hard work from all the students from both Fallon and Wells. There is simply no data to back up these absurb claims about how Fallon students are academically superior to Wells students.
10:43 PM on November 9th, 2009
Which school is more academically superior, you can tell from the API scores of Fallon and Wells (900 vs 796). If DHS were to calculate the API scores of Fallon and Wells students separately, you would see Fallon students did better than Wells.
8:36 PM on November 9th, 2009
“But at the same time, we need to be careful to wish for another big increase next year. If API score for DHS can get to around 880 in the next couple of years, I think the whole issue of second high school would be muted.”
So…stop me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like you would rather NOT see DHS improve to 880 because it would weaken the argument for a second high school. I’m a little confused. Some of you are complaining that DHS is not as strong as other high schools in the area (Pleasanton, San Ramon). So wouldn’t you WANT Dublin High to be as good? Or do you just want that second high school just to have it? What is the real issue here?
10:49 PM on November 9th, 2009
No, I sincerely hope the API score for DHS can reach 880 or above in a short time. I was just saying it is going to be more difficult to have another 44 point jump in API. DHS needs to work harder to achieve that.
2:26 PM on December 11th, 2009
The real issue is they want a High School on the east side of town. API scores, academic programs, etc are merely a fig leaf to cover the real agenda. Geography. Call their bluff. Offer the charter the elementary school site that was closed a year ago (even farther west than Dublin High) and listen for all the reasons that site cannot work.
11:31 PM on November 10th, 2009
I think a school in livermore(granola?) had a higher increase than dublin.
8:29 AM on November 10th, 2009
I think it’s fantastic that DHS API scores keep improving every year. I am confused, however.
I keep reading how much higher all these neighboring schools API scores are, compared to DHS. If this has been such an important issue to you and numbers are all you care about, then why did you choose to live in Dublin? All the information on local schools in any community are easily obtainable. If you moved to Dublin 5 years ago and did some research prior, you would have known all the current facts. Since that time, Dublin High school has improved every year in many different areas. So again I ask, why did you move to Dublin? If the schools in Pleasanton or San Ramon are “so much better” why didn’t you move there? A lack of planning on your part?
10:59 AM on November 10th, 2009
Are you trying to drive those people out of Dublin or what? Do not worry. If DHS is not getting on par with neighboring schools, some families will move out of Dublin when their kids are getting closer to high school age. Or more and more families with kids going to high schools would support to have the charter school.
11:43 AM on November 10th, 2009
I personally have know a few folks have moved out of Dublin when their kids hit high schools. Just last weekend, a friend of mine told me that they’re buying a condo in our neighboring city so they can send their kids to the high school over there when the time comes.
So don’t worry, people are actually making their ‘plans’ for sure. But I somewhat think that the loser in all this is the city of Dublin, those properties from folks that have moved out are now turned into rental properties. Or is this the city officials ‘plan’ to drive people away? Hmmm… I wonder…
4:57 PM on November 10th, 2009
Good. They can send their kid where they want to. Dublin High’s enrollment keeps growing anyway. You people make it sound like there’s a mass exodus of folks out of Dublin. And if by “loser”, you mean having a high school with brand new facilities with increasing test scores and student population, sure. I hope Dublin keeps losing.
2:27 PM on November 10th, 2009
First of all those who are not posting their name what are you afraid of. I post this question to all the supporters of this charter school. Have you asked your kids what they want? Lets remember that they are the ones who go to school every day. They do all the work. It is their lives not yours. You only get to be a young student once in your life. I am sure that all of your kids are not even close to starting high school. If you want a private school education. Send your kid to a private school. There are plenty in the Tri-Valley area. DHS is a fantastic school. Why not drop in some time and look around. I bet you haven’t.
8:23 PM on November 10th, 2009
I happen to know people who have left the high school in Pleasanton and San Ramon and come to Dublin because their children (different families) were very unhappy at those schools. Their children LOVE DHS and are blossoming.
8:26 PM on November 10th, 2009
I bet the new “renters” will be more than happy to send their kids to a brand new school with an excellent curriculum!
10:40 AM on November 11th, 2009
Yeah, right, I wish Dublin became a renter-community like Hayward (just to be sarcastic).
11:44 PM on November 10th, 2009
I think people who bought in Dublin are well aware of the test scores. Buy low, sell high. Create a new school with better score and profit from the higher property value.
11:55 PM on November 10th, 2009
We all do know that it is easier to get into a college if you’re a top performing student from a less competitive school, right? Lower API scores can be an advantage.
8:31 AM on November 11th, 2009
Interesting point…But as far as I know, for top performing schools, they generally want AP classes. AP classes are the same for all the schools nationally.
8:33 AM on November 11th, 2009
I mean “top performing colleges”.
7:14 PM on December 2nd, 2009
For more information on the charter high school debate visit http://www.OneDublin.org.
7:56 AM on December 3rd, 2009
It’s good to see passion on both sides of the Tassajara Prep topic, but wow, an entire site dedicated against the charter school?
1:25 PM on December 11th, 2009
Seems fair to me. There are two (including this one) web sites devoted to promoting the charter school. Both sides of this issue need to be presented to the residents of Dublin.
10:22 PM on December 7th, 2009
This is an interesting discussion. I see it from many different sides.
I live in “West Dublin” (note: I never make that silly distinction in normal conversation). I have kids who will be entering High School just as Tassajara Prep begins so the timing is perfect for us.
As a Realtor I often help families who are choosing a home partly on the specific location due to the choice of schools they will have. It is an important driver for real estate values. My perception is that it’s really hard to know if your child will have a more enriching education because a certain school has an API thats 50 points higher. It takes only one connection to a particular teacher to change a child forever. You never will know until after, perhaps even years later, who that teacher will be.
I have started to learn what I can about the possible charter school. I went to the community meeting, and asked some tough questions. The founders of Tassajara Prep have been very responsive, and are not afraid of questions, criticisms,and open debate.
I guess for now I support the idea of having this choice. My 2 kids are very different in their style of learning. No one school can possibly serve the diverse needs of all kids.It’s possible that I will decide that Dublin High is best for both, or one but not the other. It’s too soon to know.
It’s even possible that I will decide that Tassajara Prep isn’t right for my kids at all, but that I still passionately support it. I want every child to have a high school experience that makes them an enthusiastic, lifelong learner. Again, it’s too soon to know about my kids in particular.
I hope this discussion seeks the best path for all of the KIDS. That’s what it’s about.
11:30 AM on February 5th, 2010
Hi Eric,
Thank you for your thoughtful perspective. I do have a few questions for you. Have you signed the petition for the school? Did you attend the school board meeting Feb 5, 2010? If you did, were you surprised that there were no parents who spoke in favor of the charter school? I was very surprised that the only one who spoke in favor of the charter school was a representative from the Tri-Valley Learning Corporation, while the other 2 hours 57 minutes alloted for the meeting was in opposition to the proposed charter school. I was expecting a 2 sided debate from parents expressing their views. Many of the parents expressed that they are not opposed to charter schools when there is a need, they just don’t see a need in Dublin.
7:43 PM on February 16th, 2010
Cynthia, (re: comment on Feb 5th)
Yes, I was at the school board meeting, and I did sign the petition for the charter school. In signing the petition I expressed by desire for the process to move forward, at this early stage I still have a lot of questions. Even if the school were to become real I don’t know if I will send my kids there.
That school board meeting clearly wasn’t intended as a informational debate. It was a opportunity for the community to express their feelings. It was interesting that it became a discussion of how good Dublin High is. It seems to me that Dublin high can be excellent (as I believe it is) for most of the kids but be lacking in something for the remainder. No single solution is ideal for everyone. It’s sad that some people equate support for an potential alternative to an attack on the students or staff of Dublin High.
Rusty, (re:comment on Feb 16th)
I am one of the contributors to AroundDublin who are Realtors. To suggest that my involvement in the charter school issue is some sort of ploy to benefit Dublin Ranch land developers is flat wrong. My record of active and consistent support for Dublin schools speaks for it’s self. I am even interviewed in the video posted on the schools website. Ask Murray Principal Rick Boster who also has comments in this thread. My motivation is about what’s best for the kids.
I have always posted here with my name and photo (I appreciate that you also post with your name). Given the heated nature of the topic it’s likely that I will lose real estate business, not gain. Still, I prefer to have an open discussion in the hopes that Dublin kids will benefit in the long run.
I really think that all of us who care enough to post on this topic are on the right side, even if we appear to be on opposite sides.
Eric Haggin
925 388-6462
7:59 PM on February 16th, 2010
Some people see the charter school petition as an attack on Dublin High because Dublin High has been attacked (in most part by ignorant people who never set foot on the campus) for so many years, so it’s hard to think of this whole situation differently.
6:58 PM on February 23rd, 2010
Hi Eric (responding to 2/16 comment)-
I am glad that you are still considering your options regarding the charter school. Thanks also for the link in another post.
I was also at the school board meeting. I understand how the meeting seemed like an advertisement for Dublin High, but its intent was for public comment. There were several issues I was hoping to hear from the charter school supporters that were not addressed.
How the Charter School will supplement its budget?
What need is being addressed by the charter?
Why was the petition signed by teachers and not parents?
How many of those teachers are in the Dublin School District?
How many of them are unemployed?
Why is the Tri-Valley Learning Corporation looking to open another school when they haven’t opened their Livermore campus yet?
How many Dublin parents support the charter school?
It is my understanding that parent support is the most crucial part of whether or not a charter school is successful.
Will Tassajara Prep have the support needed?
Eric, I like you will continue to watch and participate in this discussion as what is best for the students is my main priority.
Kind Regards,
Cynthia
5:24 PM on February 24th, 2010
Hi, Cynthia,
I will try to answer your questions as much as I can. This is just my understanding based on my discussions with Tassajara founders.
Q: How the Charter School will supplement its budget?
A: First of all, the legacy cost for the charter school is much lower (in terms of pensions and retirement benefits). So it could be run more cost-efficiently. Second, some of the cost (administrative or not) can be shared with Livermore Valley Charter High School because it is under the same operating company – Tri-Valley Learning Corp. So this could potentially lower the cost further. Third, Tassajara Prep can get some federal or state funding specifically available for charter schools. Fourth, Tassajara Prep can do all kinds of fun and creative fund-raising events to raise money. Fifth, Tassajara Prep can solicit donations from parents, which is not different from the practice of traditional public schools.
Q: What need is being addressed by the charter?
A: The charter school will be more college prep focused with higher graduation standards. Tassajara Prep believe every student can succeed. And the school will counsel with every student to lay out a path right from the beginning.
Q: Why was the petition signed by teachers and not parents?
A: By law, it is not required to be signed by parents. It could be signed by teachers as well.
Q: How many of those teachers are in the Dublin School District?
A: This question is not really relevant. You do not have to hire teachers from DUSD. In fact, you want to hire the best and hardworking teachers. Because teachers are not unionized, they will be paid on merit-basis. And they will put the quality of the education first and foremost.
Q: How many of them are unemployed?
A: Again, it does not really matter. A lot of younger teachers (who tend to be laid off first from traditional public schools) are more energetic and willing to work hard to provide quality education to our kids.
Q: Why is the Tri-Valley Learning Corporation looking to open another school when they haven’t opened their Livermore campus yet?
A: The Livermore campus will be open for sure. A long waiting list is already there. If there is no demand, there would not be anybody waiting. The reason they are opening another one in Dublin is that Tassajara Prep founders want to leverage their experience on operating the charter schools so they are partnering with them. Eventually, the operation of Tassajara Prep will be totally controlled by 5 or 7 board members, all of them from Dublin.
Q: How many Dublin parents support the charter school?
A: I do not know exactly how many. However, based on my conversation with tens of parents, almost all of them generally support the idea. But as you can see, they are not as enthusiastic as people who are against it. Part of it is because most of them are new immigrants who are not as politically active as natives.
Hopefully I have answered some of your questions to some extent.
Regards,
George Wu
11:23 PM on February 24th, 2010
George – couple of comments regarding your response to Cynthia’s questions:
Q: How the Charter School will supplement its budget?
A: First of all, the legacy cost for the charter school is much lower (in terms of pensions and retirement benefits). So it could be run more cost-efficiently.
[James - this is a myth which Rick Boster responded to previously - here is his response:
According to Rick Boster, Principal - Murray Elementary Schoool: "Districts do not have “legacy” costs for retired teachers. All active, non-retired teachers have 8% of their paycheck going towards their STRS retirement. The district pays the other 8% for active employees. This would be the same for a charter school. Once an employee retires, there are no ongoing costs to the district. All teachers are responsible for their own medical payments until they reach the Medicare age. They have to pay out of pocket for any care they receive. Most people think that educators have the same type of insurance that auto unions have, the fact is that they don’t have access to this type of insurance that produces ongoing costs."]
[James - Regarding charter school funding in general, as documented on http://www.OneDublin.org there is a systemic funding gap for charter schools that may not be fair but is reality, and results in the need for substantial fundraising in many cases to offer a full program.]
Q: What need is being addressed by the charter?
A: The charter school will be more college prep focused with higher graduation standards. Tassajara Prep believe every student can succeed. And the school will counsel with every student to lay out a path right from the beginning.
[James - Dublin High already offers a wide range of college prep options - 21 AP / Advanced / Honors courses, as well as three levels of diplomas and sends 98% of its students (2009 data) to college. Dublin High's Advanced Scholar Diploma maps to the stringent UC / private college requirements. There is nothing in this area offered in the Tassajara Prep charter petition not already available and proven at Dublin High. Dublin High has the scale to offer more choice as summarized in the "Dublin High Choice" section of OneDublin.org. George has argued previously that Dublin High's mix of 2-year vs. 4-year college is an issue - I'd like to address that myth. The split is about 50/50 and last year 85% of 2-year college bound students were in transfer programs to 4-year college programs. The transfer program path is an economic reality for many Dublin families. Many of the students who went the transfer program route had already been accepted into 4-year colleges but couldn't afford the tuition.]
Q: Why was the petition signed by teachers and not parents?
A: By law, it is not required to be signed by parents. It could be signed by teachers as well.
[James - that is correct but it is notable and concerning. OneDublin.org has obtained a copy of the original Livermore Charter School petition (for the elementary / middle school) and it was signed by parents - and that was because in the case of Livermore there was very strong parent support. Tassajara Prep attended Day on the Glen and held three town hall meetings last Fall before there was any organized opposition to the charter proposal - with all that effort why hasn't parent support materialized like in Livermore? George - not exactly sure what you meant by "natives" in your response, but I can assure you that the 1000+ parents supporting OneDublin.org are an ethnically diverse cross-section of north/south/east/west Dublin.]
Q: How many of them are unemployed?
A: Again, it does not really matter. A lot of younger teachers (who tend to be laid off first from traditional public schools) are more energetic and willing to work hard to provide quality education to our kids. [James - I think this question is very relevant. If Tassajara Prep opens - and that is a big if - it is 2.5 years from now. When is the last time you agreed to a job that didn't start for 2.5 years? If the teachers who signed the charter petition are as talented as George implies wouldn't they be able to find an education job by then - despite the state of the economy?]
1:24 AM on February 25th, 2010
Dear Cynthia, James, and George,
Granted first year teachers are very energetic. However, they do lack classroom experience and the depth of knowledge on how to apply the different instructional techniques that make veteran, master teachers so effective. I think this is why LVCS has not achieved better results in regards to their students’ academic performance as discussed in my earlier posts.
At best, LVCS has only been able to equal the academic performance of the surrounding Livermore Public schools and unfortunately LVCS doesn’t have geometry as an 8th grade math class. I have grave reservations about the TVLC’s ability to offer higher academic standards/classes than what presently exists at DHS because their track record proves otherwise. So far, TVLC hasn’t been able to prove that their teachers can challenge the LVCS students to higher achievement or offer more accelerated learning opportunities than what is already available on Livermore Valley Joint Unified School’s campuses. Therefore, I have to believe that TPHS would be no different since the same people are running it. Furthermore, DHS has the highest graduation requirements in the Tri-Valley bar none.
I share this not as a put-down to teachers new to the profession, but as an example of how a veteran teacher can help a new teacher become highly effective. Take for instance my fourth grade team at Murray. I have established a grade level team of Ms. Gleichauf, a veteran DUSD educator alongside Mrs. Nash, a first year teacher. Through this partnership and mentoring Mrs. Nash was recently honored as California’s Outstanding First Year Teacher. This statewide honor would not have been possible without their grade level teamwork. If you were to talk to them, I am sure they would talk about the teamwork and the different skills that they bring to their grade level team that makes them effective.
I am concerned about the misinformed supporters of TPHS. I really hope they understand what they are signing on for. I think if they took the opportunity to research all of the facts and the impacts of having a small school, they would understand that in the end they will have less options if they choose to attend TPHS.
Respectfully Yours,
Rick Boster
12:25 PM on February 25th, 2010
Hi, Rick,
You completely misunderstood my comments about young teachers. I do not mean Tassajara Prep only hire young teachers at all. I mean they can hire some talented and hard working young teachers. At the same time, they can also hire older and more experienced teachers. I agree that some older and more experienced teachers are valuable.
But on the other hand, you just cannot deny the fact there are a lot of teachers who have stayed at the school for a long time but do not put students’ education first and foremost under the protection of powerful teachers’ union. There is one article about this:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1957277,00.html
Even Secretary of Education Duncan shared the same philosophy with me. He demanded more school choice and competition as well as an emphasis on teacher evaluation and accountability.
1:00 PM on February 25th, 2010
George,
Thank you for your reasoned responses to Cynthia’s questions. I’m impressed that Tassajara Prep supporters like you are voicing their support publicly in the face of such well-organized and aggressive opposition. I’d rather stay anonymous at this point, rather than having to deal with hateful stares at Target from people that don’t even know me.
However, we should all be aware by now that opponents ask these types of questions for the sole purpose of publicizing their opposition to Tassajara Prep. They do not care what the answers to their questions are:
They don’t care about Tassajara Prep’s financials.
They don’t care about Tassajara Prep’s curriculum.
They don’t care how many AP classes will be offered at Tassajara Prep.
They don’t care about the class sizes at Tassajara Prep.
They don’t care if 30 parents or 3000 parents support Tassajara Prep.
They don’t care if the Livermore Valley Charter School is highly successful, with extremely proud and happy parents, 900 students and hundreds more on the waiting list.
None of that makes any difference to them. They don’t care if Tassajara Prep is going to be an outstanding high school. In fact, they are convinced that it is going to be an outstanding high school, and they feel threatened by that. All they care about is stopping Tassajara Prep. They just want it to go away, period. That’s their sole objective. Anything else they say, or any questions they ask, are just strategic misdirection from their single-minded goal. Let’s all keep that in mind as we move forward, and not get caught up with debating the issue with people who, no matter what, are not going to stop trying to prevent Tassajara Prep.
Another Tassajara Prep Supporter
1:21 PM on February 25th, 2010
George (and all Tassajara Prep supporters),
Keep in mind that the opposition to Tassajara Prep is almost exclusively from people with selfish conflicts of interest. In other words, they either:
1) Have a student at Dublin HS and feel that Tassajara Prep is somehow an attack on their child’s school (it’s not).
2) They work for the district or have close friends that do.
3) They have no kids in 6th grade or younger, so Tassajara Prep is not an option.
4) They live on the west side of Dublin and think that Tassajara Prep will only benefit the east side (it won’t), or they think that having the city’s only high school on their side of town will boost their property values (probably true).
Take these conflicts of interest into account whenever someone questions the need for Tassajara Prep, or questions its viability or community support. They are almost certainly not the parents of future students of Tassajara Prep. Don’t let them take away your choice.
Another Tassajara Prep Supporter
1:27 PM on February 25th, 2010
George,
When Cynthia states that “what is best for the students is my main priority”, don’t be misled. Her only priority is stopping Tassajara Prep. I can almost guarantee you that she has one of the four conflicts of interest listed in my previous comment. She doesn’t want to learn more about Tassajara Prep, she only wants it to go away.
The opposition that Tassajara Prep is facing is Standard Operating Procedure for every district faced with a charter school petition, because it means competition from a school outside of their control. It is to be expected, and yet thousands of charter schools have been successfully launched despite similar opposition. The inordinate time, expense and effort that the One Dublin High School group is expending is unusual, but it should be taken as testimony to how serious the district considers Tassajara Prep’s chances for success.
Also keep in mind that by the time Tassajara Prep opens, the new Livermore Valley Charter Prep high school will have completed two years of operation. Parents will be able to evaluate the success of LVCP before choosing to send their kids to Tassajara Prep. No one will be forced to go to Tassajara Prep. That’s one of the beauties of charter schools — they offer a choice. Today there is no choice in Dublin, there is only Dublin HS. When Tassajara Prep arrives, parents will have two public high schools to choose from. This will even be a step up from our neighboring cities in the Tri-Valley, where high school attendance is largely dictated by your address, so you don’t really have a choice of high schools. Opponents of Tassajara Prep don’t want Dublin parents to have a choice.
Another Tassajara Prep Supporter
8:12 PM on February 25th, 2010
Hi George,
Actually, I understood your statement really well. I am very familiar with the potential applicant pool since I have hired some excellent teachers in the past year. You’re correct on a nationwide basis, I am sure you could find teachers who need to retire. However, please don’t let this nationwide generality color you opinion of what happens here in Dublin.
It should just so happen that I have one of the most veteran staffs in DUSD. I would encourage you to come on by Murray and observe all that is happening in our school before making blanket criticisms of teachers on a whole. We can even do lunch; I am sure you will find out that we have more in common than the differences on TP.
Concerning veteran teachers leaving their present job to start a new venture, it is highly unlikely. Maybe there would be a few altruistic veteran teachers that would sign up, but frankly they would have to take a large pay cut to teach at TPHS based on the financials that were included with their charter application. Given the economic climate, I would think that a veteran in the hiring pool would be an exception, not the norm. As for Dublin, we have been able to retain our best young teachers even in the face of last year’s layoffs. Dublin is a very desirable place to work and that is why we have an excellent selection of applicants to choose from.
In regards to choice, please come witness the Pathways program and how we have built choice into the present DUSD system. By working together, we have retained a higher amount of money per child than if they would have started their own charter school. I think that it is almost criminal that the State, who is 49th in funding for a student’s education, thinks it is OK to give less money per student in a charter school simply because they have the “charter” label. When has it become OK to value students unequally in one district/school over those in another? This forces parents to contribute thousands of dollars to what is supposed to be free and appropriate education that is guaranteed by California’s Constitution.
As far as veterans being innovative, one of our Pathways teachers is the most senior teacher in the district and she is excellent with her craft of teaching. Come see them in action integrating new practices into their extensive toolbox.
When it comes to using data to evaluate effective teaching, Dublin has made great gains. I would like to show you our Online Assessment and Reporting System. This system tracks each individual student and helps us differentiate learning so that students receive the lessons that will help them grow.
Please come to Murray and see the veterans that you have read about. I am sure your assumptions will be challenged.
Give me a call to set something up, would love to talk face-to-face. (925) 828-2568 x 5401
Let this also serve as an open invitation for others in Dublin, who may not have a direct connection to the schools yet, you are welcome to come tour Murray with me and see what goes on in DUSD’s public schools. Please don’t let unfounded assumptions control your impressions from a distance. Give me a call to set up a visit. (925) 828-2568 x5401
Warm Regards,
Rick
9:36 PM on December 12th, 2009
If Fallon was opened to West Dublin students, I bet many parents from Wells would send their kids to Fallon.
12:46 PM on February 5th, 2010
My daughter goes to Wells Middle School and I don’t think my daughter is missing out on anything that Fallon has. It is comments like yours that drive a wedge in our community.
Just because a school is newer, doesn’t make it better or worse. Just newer. All middle schools have issues the question is how are they resolved. Fallon and Wells are part of a very dynamic and hard working school system.
1:59 PM on February 5th, 2010
But the fact is Fallon is newer and BETTER. You can be as subjective as you want, but the real objective numbers tell that.
4:31 PM on February 5th, 2010
Hi “Anonymous”,
As I am responding to your subjective original posting, regarding Wells Middle School parents “wishing” to send their kids to Fallon, I believe I am entitled to a subjective reply.
If you would like to talk specifics, feel free. Like I said earlier, my daughter goes to Wells and I do not see how “newer” equals better. It’s just newer. I would be interested to talk about your definition of “better” and compare apples to apples.
I also stand by my previous response that when you pit Fallon against Wells middle school you are driving a wedge in our community and I do not subscribe to what I see as an elitist viewpoint.
Kind Regards,
Cynthia
4:38 PM on February 5th, 2010
I am not the one who made the original comment. I am just the third party who is trying to be more objective here. You can compare the API scores of these two schools yourself. But again, you may also say that is not objective enough because you think whatever you say is more objective than the real numbers.
11:15 PM on February 5th, 2010
Hi,
Check out our lengthy discussion on the Fallon vs Wells API further up in the posts. I think you may find it factual and interesting.
http://www.arounddublinblog.com/2009/09/new-public-high-school-planned-for-dublin-california/#comment-3462
4:58 PM on February 5th, 2010
There are lot’s of different definitions of “better.” API is only one of them. I also have a child at Wells, and I can’t think of a single parent who would intentionally move to Fallon. I agree with Cynthia that this kind of comments only serve to further the east side/west side divide. That sort of rhetoric serves no purpose.
2:57 PM on February 25th, 2010
I agreed ‘newer’ doesn’t equate to better. Renovating DHS with newer facilities does not make it better than what it was. I am glad someone gets it.
10:59 PM on February 4th, 2010
Where was all the support for the charter tonight at the school board meeting?
11:04 PM on February 4th, 2010
Too busy with their kids, I reckon.
4:13 PM on February 5th, 2010
I think in light of the lack of proponents at last night’s board meeting (and the few charter school proponents leaving early), the title of this blog topic should be “PROPOSED CHARTER SCHOOL FAILS DUE TO LACK OF PARENTAL SUPPORT.”
4:27 PM on February 16th, 2010
I am always amazed at this blog – considering that 2 out of 5 of the contributors are Real Estate agents and one is a “consultant” I find it very hard to believe that this blog is anything but a front for Dublin Ranch land management. Dublin doesn’t need a new school yet and the “exponential growth’ predicted is, at best, exponentially optimistic. Dublin – there should not be a East or West – has benefitted by the McMansions being built on the East side and I sympathize about the commute to DHS but those residents knew that when they bought their property. It is not a viable reason to build this school, which, will most likely do nothing by dilute the already stretched funding our schools suffer from.
I also, and this is my opinion, think the motivations of the blog to be a proponent of another high school in Dublin are dubious – more like trying to come up with another selling point for Dublin Ranch.
Another problem with the ‘commute’ complaint is the overdevelopment of the eastern side of Dublin so shouldn’t be a serious consideration. You can blame greedy developers and real estate agents for that.
7:47 PM on February 16th, 2010
Rusty, (re:comment on Feb 16th)
I am one of the contributors to AroundDublin who are Realtors. To suggest that my involvement in the charter school issue is some sort of ploy to benefit Dublin Ranch land developers is flat wrong. My record of active and consistent support for Dublin schools speaks for it’s self. I am even interviewed in the video posted on the schools website. Ask Murray Principal Rick Boster who also has comments in this thread. My motivation is about what’s best for the kids.
I have always posted here with my name and photo (I appreciate that you also post with your name). Given the heated nature of the topic it’s likely that I will lose real estate business, not gain. Still, I prefer to have an open discussion in the hopes that Dublin kids will benefit in the long run.
I really think that all of us who care enough to post on this topic are on the right side, even if we appear to be on opposite sides.
Eric Haggin
925 388-6462
12:44 PM on February 17th, 2010
I just want to reply to the positions that Dublin High School is great, that charter schools are only necessary in underperforming areas, and that there is no support for this additional choice for the kids of Dublin. I believe strongly that NONE of these arguments are legit. I moved to Dublin from the South Bay and one of the best school districts in the state.
Los Altos Elementary School District – Growth API Scores*
School Name API Score
Almond Elementary 972
Covington Elementary 938
Loyola Elementary 967
Oak Avenue Elementary 984
Santa Rita Elementary 959
Springer Elementary 963
Blach Intermediate 953
Egan Intermediate 960
Los Altos School District 961
This district also has Bullis Charter School, where my kids went.
Bullis Charter API Score 971
Even in this terrific district there is HUGE demand for the choice – the waitlist is 3x enrollment. It is clearly not just about academics. The cultural and philosophical differences about the school is a critical draw to those who choose to send their kids to Bullis – and any other charter school. Dublin is also struggling with diversity, and I think choices will help.
It is beyond me how anyone can argue that an option for a different learning environment for kids to thrive in is a bad thing. Every child learns differently, and we owe it to the children to offer diversity. Some students will simply not do well in a large school environment.
Parents should not need to fight the mob mentality in order to support the cause. Onedublin as a slogan might be catchy, but it is also very closed minded.
How many truly “neutral” parties were at the hearing? The supporters of this are going to be a lot less passionate about the cause than those who work for or attend the district schools. A room full of Dublin High School students, teachers, and parents is not neutral. They all feel they have something to lose.
I feel it is critical for us – all of Dublin, to remember what we have to gain.
5:15 PM on February 17th, 2010
Your statement “The supporters of this are going to be a lot less passionate about the cause” is in stark contrast to many charter school debates, including the debate that took place several years ago in Livermore. I met with a former board member of Livermore Valley Charter School over the weekend who talked about the passion and commitment required to get a charter school off the ground. In Livermore, parents led, showed up and spoke out passionately in favor of the charter initiative throughout the process, and donated hundreds of hours to make the charter concept a reality.
If there truly is passionate support for a charter high school in Dublin it hasn’t yet surfaced – not at the Tassajara Prep organized town hall meetings last fall and not at the public hearing held specifically for the charter school supporters. Perhaps Dublin is the exception – where the challenge of starting a charter high school can be overcome without passionate support and thousands of volunteer hours from parents.
The argument being made by OneDublin.org is simple – you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Tassajara Prep supporters I’ve spoken to want a high school on the east side of Dublin, a private school education for free, and a small school experience. Points on each of those:
Regarding a high school on the east side – Tassajara Prep has no location. The only unoccupied school in the Dublin Unified School District is a closed elementary school on the west side. Bill Batchelor at the Tassajara Prep town hall meetings was straightforward on this point – they don’t know where the school will be located if the charter is approved, only that an east-side location is desirable. John Zukoski has previously stated in writing that Fallon is off limits (recognizing that mixing high school and middle school students at one location wouldn’t be well received by the community).
What east-side locations that leaves is a mystery – an empty floor in an office building? A vacant strip mall storefront? (these are the alternatives I’ve heard discussed.) The Tassajara Prep timeline states the earliest date for a permanent location (location TBD, funding TBD) as 3 years after opening in a temporary location.
Regarding a private school education for free and a small school experience: I attended an exclusive private school for all of high school (550 high school students) – the small school environment worked because students could be expelled for academic reasons. No need for special education – those students weren’t accepted. No need for remedial education – those students were expelled. No need for tiering of classes (AP and non-AP classes) – only AP-level students were accepted and allowed to stay. Half of my 9th grade peers were expelled for academic reasons by the time I graduated and went on to college.
In Dublin – east and west – we have a wide range of incomes and backgrounds. Tassajara Prep, if opened, would be a public school and therefore must provide special education and programming for all students that apply – first come, first served. Tassajara Prep can’t turn away students for any reason (other than capacity). Serving all students in a smaller public high school means difficult trade-offs and less choice for students – whether it’s a district-run or charter-run school.
That leads to the charter school funding challenge. Bullis Charter School (BCS) where your children attended – and for those not familiar BCS is an elementary school – makes the following statement on its website: “BCS depends on its entire parent community to make generous donations each year. To help cover the funding gap, we ask each family to donate towards the BCS Annual Campaign goal of $1,400,000. Our suggested donation for this year is $4,000 per student.” (source: http://tinyurl.com/y9f78je).
Systemic charter school underfunding across California means that charitable donations are necessary to offer a complete program. Dublin isn’t Los Altos (meaning exceptionally affluent – Los Altos was ranked #3 on Forbes 2008 list of America’s Most Affluent Neighborhoods) and as a result it is unrealistic to expect that level of parent financial support. Livermore Valley Charter School struggles to get $1,000 per student per year in charitable donations. Every public school in Dublin has to meet the needs of all children, whether they have special needs, come from million-dollar homes or live in subsidized housing.
Given the state of education funding cutbacks in California I believe one unified high school is a better outcome for Dublin, its students and my children. I believe that scale leads to choice – and that splitting the Dublin high school population between two schools would lead to less choice, not more. That said, I respect the views of those who disagree with this point of view.
2:51 PM on February 18th, 2010
This is where you are completely wrong and misleading, James. I cannot comment on the formation of the Livermore schools, but I have a great deal of firsthand experience with charter school formation. Not only did my kids attend a charter school, my brother was part of a group that founded a charter high school in San Diego. The opposition is almost always louder and more passionate – and PAID BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN OPPOSITION. They almost always use the same fear based tactics your OneDublin group is using.
There is support. If there is not any, like you claim, nothing to worry about. The school does not open without students. The reason you are so worried, and there is such an outcry of fear tactics is that there is support. Charter schools continue to grow stronger in spite of these ridiculous campaigns against them. You need a more productive hobby.
4:11 PM on February 18th, 2010
I respect your right to disagree with the arguments I’ve introduced into this debate – and encourage you to challenge the facts behind http://www.OneDublin.org‘s arguments.
Regarding “fear tactics”: pointing out that many charter schools rely on large donations to offer full programs, pointing out that Tri-Valley Learning Corp. can’t guarantee an east-side location for Tassajara Prep, pointing out that charter schools are public schools that can’t cherry pick the “smartest kids”, and pointing out that diverting ADA funding from Dublin High will inevitably lead to programming cuts and less choice for Dublin High students is simply stating what is factually defensible.
Regarding “productive hobbies” I can see nothing more productive than fighting for my children’s education, as you are doing. We simply disagree. Given the very positive response I’ve received from parents across Dublin I’m motivated to continue. If OneDublin.org was supportive of the Tassajara Prep initiative would my “hobby” suddenly become “productive” in your view?
Regarding OneDublin.org – while it’s stating the obvious, we’re completely funded by and run by parents.
3:18 PM on February 17th, 2010
This is a very good point: Growing diversity in Dublin demands more choice for schools. I could not agree more with you.
4:18 PM on March 1st, 2010
Please go ahead with Tassajara Prep. It does not hurt to give choices, for folks that say there was never a plan for high school in East Dublin, they are wrong. City of Dublin conviniently sold it to the builders. People are being driven off to nearby towns because they do not want to drive across town to a school that is “under construction”. It is healthy competition to have another high school in East Dublin
8:57 AM on March 2nd, 2010
I agree, let the voice of East Dubliners be heard. Competition is good for the city and more school choices will attract higher income families to Dublin.
2:47 PM on March 2nd, 2010
I think better high schools will attract more higher income families to Dublin, just like what happened to Dougherty Valley High School (San Ramon). This school has just been open for a few years and it is already full and has more students than DHS. A lot of families are now on the waiting list. There is just a lot of demand for better high schools from parents around the Bay Area. If another high school in Dublin offers choice and gives better education to our kids, it would definitely be a plus for Dublin real estate properties.
10:20 PM on March 2nd, 2010
Hi George and anonymous folks,
I think we have established the fact that choice is derived from the size of a school. Bigger the size, them more choices one has. LVCS can’t offer the same challenging math classes that the surrounding Livermore middle schools can offer due to the small size of their middle school. This isn’t the type of choice that the perspective parents of TPHS are looking for. I have already made that point so I will not belabor it; however, I would still like to have someone explain why LVCS can’t offer the geometry class at the 8th grade level.
As for DVHS, Gale Ranch and Windemere developments are much larger than all of east Dublin. Additionally many Danville/Blackhawk homes attend DVHS, so it draws from all of east San Ramon/Danville not just one locale. Furthermore, SRVUSD waited until the numbers of students were there before they developed DVHS.
What is not mentioned here is the amount of single-family homes in that section of San Ramon in comparison to the high-density housing that does not yield as many students per home in Dublin. In stark contrast to east Dublin development, higher income families desire a single-family home in SR over the high-density housing in east Dublin. These two factors, schools and single family homes, attract the demographic you are searching for. They opt for San Ramon, if they can afford it. The “average” Dublin family wouldn’t be able to afford the homes, or they would have to make a decision to buy less of a home, since the 94568 income per household is at least $50,0000 less than the 94582 zip code.
I still say that we can create choice within DUSD, retain a higher amount of money per student than a charter would receive, and work together to improve the high school that has made leaps and bounds in the past few years.
11:24 AM on March 3rd, 2010
Hi, Rick,
Thanks for your comments. I think this is sort of chicken and egg problem. There are still a lot of single family housing projects to be developed in East Dublin (Positano, Wallis Ranch, etc). And we still have more land available. We definitely need to change the zoning to dis-allow more high-density housing projects. If there is more demand (created by better high schools), these projects can be started earlier and faster. And the median household income will also increase if we attract more higher-income families here.
BTW, your data for median household income is not accurate. Here is what I got from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin,_California
The average income for a household in the city is $101,550.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ramon,_California
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $111,604.
So you see, there is not a huge difference at all as you said.
11:41 AM on March 3rd, 2010
And you keep saying poorer community will do poorer than wealthier community. That is probably true for conventional thinking. But there is an example in New York City where the poorest community did better than the wealthiest community after they introduced “race-to-the-top” and accountability for teachers (and other education reforms) Here is the link to a video in which this school is mentioned:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/03/02/arne_duncan_on_obama_and_teachers_unions.html
9:30 PM on March 5th, 2010
Thanks George for the info. Agreed, zoning for the single-family homes will drive the parents there. (Especially if it is in east Dublin.) The schools there are comparable to surrounding cities API’s.
As for you Wikipedia numbers, the editor of the page may have quoted a wrong projection number from Dublin’s city website. The $101, 550 is an ABAG projection for 2015. Whoever copied it was probably looking at the projection for 2015. The actual the ABAG projection for 2010 is $96,100 according to the Dublin website. Gotta watch the Wiki, not always accurate. However, if you look at the Adjusted Gross Income from the tax returns for zip codes, I think you will see what I am referencing. AGI is probably more accurate than ABAG projections.
For instance, http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/TaxZip.asp indicates that the AGI for 94583 (the old part of San Ramon) was $131,884 for the 2007 tax year. Whereas, the AGI for 94568 was $87,777. A significant difference of $44,107.
As for the poor community statement that you brought up, please understand that I have never said the lower socio-economic community can’t succeed. That is the furthest thing from the truth. Being in public education, I have had the opportunity to work in some of the poorest neighborhoods in the state of California. My point, simply stated, is students from poorer neighborhoods have more barriers to overcome than other students who are in neighborhoods that are more affluent. Specifically, they have limited access to good preschools and early learning opportunities.
Recognizing this fact, I have been a champion of the DUSD efforts to establish a Pre-K program. The program was going to be housed at Murray until we saw a sudden increase in enrollment this past fall. Thus, the program had to move to Dub. El. I really liked the video link you provided. It just so happens that bringing quality preschools to low income neighborhoods was one of the major topics covered.
I too believe that if you can offer a quality preschool experience, we could eliminate the achievement gap. As for the students who come from the poorer neihbohoods, they can, and many do, overcome those barriers; however, if you look at the current, dismal CA state-wide data, the Achievement Gap is a well-documented occurrence. Granted you can find diamonds in the rough, but really we should be able to offer a quality educational experience since it is guaranteed by the CA State Constitution.
6:12 PM on March 6th, 2010
Hi,Rick,
Thanks for your reply. Just want to clarify something about the school in the video I posted. I agree with you that early education is very important. But the improvement of that school has nothing to do with the early education. For that school, all the minority schools got into 5th grade with 1st grade reading level. By the time they graduated from middle school, they became 100% proficient in reading and math (better than the wealthiest suburb in New York City). The main reason for their success is that they introduced merit-based pay for teachers and held teachers more accountable for students’ performance.
Yes, right now this school is a diamond in the rough, but Secretary of Education Arne Duncan wants to make it more widespread and less of a miracle. It definitely sets up a good role model for other schools.
4:48 PM on March 7th, 2010
Poor students can do better than rich students. Take for example Lincoln Elementary in Oakland.
API – 933 (English language learners – 935, Disadvantage – 928)
Free Lunch Program – 80%
English language learners – 58%
8:49 PM on March 7th, 2010
Dear Anonymous 4:48 PM on March 7th, 2010,
I couldn’t agree with you more; great success story. In trying to figure out the reasons for their success, I looked up the stats on the school. It is known as the highest performing OUSD school. What interested me the most was the ethnic/race demographics of the students. The school is close to the “Chinatown” section in Oakland. Just so happens that the school is 93% Asian. Their success parallels many other schools who have a high Asian demographic. It seems that all Asian populations, regardless of their socio-economic background, seemingly value education. As an honest question to those of Asian decent who read this blog, I would like to know what you would attribute that success to?
Since most of my background has been working with Hispanic/African American students, I would be very interested in hearing first-hand what motivates the cultures of Asia to perform so well in school? The follow up question would be, what can we learn and apply to a culture of a school to emulate this performance? I have read many theories on this, but I always like to hear first-hand stories, it helps put academic knowledge into context.
Thanks for the post,
Rick
9:20 PM on March 7th, 2010
Hi, Rick,
I am an Asian American. From my personal experience, I think Asian parents (compared with other minorities) are generally more involved in their children’s education and more willing to sacrifice their own time/energy/interest for their children’s education, no matter what their family income level is.
6:22 PM on March 2nd, 2010
Two observations. First, there are many people on the east-side of Dublin who are not in favor of the charter initiative (I’m one of them) because of the reduction in choice for students that will result from two undersized high schools and a lack of scale. So this issue isn’t simply about letting “the voice of East Dubliners be heard.”
Second, I am seeing a consistent theme of parents who like the idea of a charter high school in Dublin but who don’t want to get involved (or don’t have the time to get involved) to make it happen. For a good idea of what it takes – the kind of parent commitment and involvement – to get a charter school off the ground here is a case study of Livermore Valley Charter School (LVCS). This is relevant because the corp. behind LVCS is the same corp. behind the Dublin charter initiative): http://tinyurl.com/yf3crnc.
8:29 AM on March 3rd, 2010
When you say “many” in east Dublin not in favor you should back that up with a %. And I an sure it will be a very low percentage who is not in support of Charter school. Positano community is expanding quick fast and you don’t need to worry about insufficient students.
Dublin high will have lower API scores in the future when the Charter HS is available to those in the east because Dublin high will not have overflow from Fallon.
8:45 AM on March 3rd, 2010
I agree, it seems the opponents of Tassajara Prep are just NOT willing to give charter school a chance and want to shut down the whole concept before it even is initiated. For folks who will live in Silvera ranch or the outskirts of Dublin ranch, going to Dublin high will be a long commute. It also seems Dublin high is banking on getting the students from Fallon. Dublin high needs the folks from the fallon, you can see it in the marketing that is happening at Fallon Middle school. Currently we are loosing a fair number of students as parents find rental homes in surrounding cities. Another high school/charter school will be very important to have in the next 5 years time frame as the population here expands. There is lot of support from parents. Just because they didnt make it to the hearing, that doesn’t say anything. If the school were to open, you can bank on immense parent support and this will help the community in general. Maybe city of dublin needs to stop selling and rezoning land around gleason. All the decisions to stop another high school in Dublin was probably made by folks with political aspirations in the city.
6:57 PM on March 3rd, 2010
Anonymous at 8:29 on March 3 wrote:
“Dublin high will have lower API scores in the future when the Charter HS is available to those in the east because Dublin high will not have overflow from Fallon.”
I am open to the idea of Tassajara Prep, but I respectfully disagree with this comment. It sounds like you are implying that parents of Fallon students will enroll their kids into Tassajara Prep instead of DHS, and I think you’re incorrect. I believe there is a large majority of people who will remain in the public school system that DUSD manages and send their kids to DHS not only because the curriculum meets their needs, but also because the lifelong friendships and bonds their kids have with other kids going to DHS.
It also sounds like you’re implying that Fallon students are smarter than Wells students. This is simply not true. The school test scores are based on the scores of the students tested. Fallon is a K-8 school; Wells is 6-8. Looking at 6-8 only, the test scores are very close, but the total population is different where Wells has more students tested in 6-8 than Fallon. Generally speaking, this is not an apples-to-apples comparison at the high level.
I wish Tassajara Prep were planned to be a public, DUSD-run school, instead of a charter school. This whole concept of the “East vs. West”, “Smart vs. Not Smart”, “Old Money vs. New Money” would then be moot because kids on the West would be required to attend DHS and kids on the East would be requried to attend Tassajara Prep based on district boundary lines.
I also believe that DHS in it’s current state of ~1250 students is fine. We don’t need a ~2500 student school to have the variety and choice. Why? Because DHS already has choice with ~1250 students and they’re proving it works. Another school with 1250 students can be just as successful.
12:16 PM on March 3rd, 2010
James,
I’ve never commented on this forum before, but I’m getting tired of you saying the same things over and over again. We get it. You are opposed to Tassajara Prep, you don’t think it’s possible for a high school of 1200 students to be an excellent school, and you don’t want Dublin parents to have the choice of a second high school because you think it will destroy Dublin HS and the city of Dublin.
You said “there are many people on the east-side of Dublin who are not in favor of the charter initiative (I’m one of them) “.
I’ve talked to our neighbors and to fellow parents at Fallon. You must be talking about people on the east side who have kids currently attending Dublin HS or don’t have young children. If you exclude parents from those two categories, then for every east side parent you find that is opposed to Tassajara Prep, I guarantee you I can find ten parents who are in favor of Tassajara Prep. Those are the parents that matter, because their kids are the ones that will go to Tassajara Prep. They are not shouting, cheering and ranting at public hearings, because they are not afraid that Tassajara Prep will destroy Dublin HS. They are hopeful and confident that Tassajara Prep is coming and they are very happy about that. When there is a public college prep high school on the east side, they will send their kids to it. And most likely so will the one in eleven that you can find that are currently opposed to Tassajara Prep.
Fallon Mother
5:51 PM on March 3rd, 2010
We agree to disagree – I respect that. However your statement re: east-side parents who support OneDublin.org not having young kids is incorrect – the overwhelming majority of those that started this initiative (all east-side at the beginning) have children that will attend Dublin High 2012+. My younger daughter, for example, won’t start at Dublin High until 2013.
What may surprise you is that if Tassajara Prep’s charter is ultimately approved (more likely than not – I’m not naive) and opens (somewhat less likely if parent support continues to be so passive and/or the east-side location promise ultimately can’t be fulfilled) I don’t want it to fail. The worst case scenario is Tassajara Prep tries to get off the ground and crashes. The failure of California Charter Academy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Charter_Academy) is the worst case scenario that hurts everyone in Dublin – I expect you’ll agree with me on this point.
I’m just giving parents another point of view – both an accurate picture of what Dublin High provides and an accurate picture of what it takes to start a charter school.
Regarding the former point – an accurate picture of Dublin High – it is clear from many anonymous postings on this blog that part of the Tri-Valley Learning Corp. strategy, mainly via proxies, is to denigrate Dublin High. In a comment above there is an example of this: “Dublin high will have lower API scores in the future when the Charter HS is available to those in the east because Dublin high will not have overflow from Fallon.” Divisive tatements like this – that east-side kids are smarter than west-side kids – serve no purpose in our community.
Regarding the latter point – an accurate picture of what it takes to start a charter school – I encourage you and other parents that have decided to support the charter school concept to be active supporters – to invest the hundreds of hours of personal time as Livermore parents did for Livermore Valley Charter School (an investment that started before the charter was even approved).
That’s what the latest article on OneDublin.org was all about – that charter schools are ultimately parent volunteer powered because there typically isn’t the same level of funding or district support infrastructure behind them. A few postings on this blog from Livermore Valley Charter School parents reinforce this point.
9:16 PM on March 3rd, 2010
Hi, James,
I agree with you that the divisive statement made by one of the Anonymous does not serve any constructive purpose at all. I sincerely want to encourage all the TP supporters to refrain from using these kinds of statements. Keep in mind the goal for TP is to have win-win for both DHS and TP.
I believe we will have enough students to fill two schools, if the quality of Dublin’s high schools keeps getting better and better. For those who worried about DHS, based on my understanding, TP will limit the number of students so that it won’t reduce the number of students in DHS (compared to current level) so DHS needs not be concerned about reduced funding (compared to current level).
On the other hand, if TP is not good enough, less and less parents will send their kids there. It will naturally wither and die. In that case, we still have DHS as a backup, right?
1:53 PM on March 4th, 2010
James — You really should try to show more integrity in your comments. Fallon Mother made it very clear that she was referring to east-side parents who only have 6th grade kids or younger. You don’t fit that criteria, and you knew that when you wrote your comment. I would bet that the “overwhelming majority” of your east-side supporters don’t fit that criteria either. I would also wager that 95% to 99% of your One Dublin High School supporters don’t meet Fallon Mother’s criteria. If we focus the discussion on east-side parents who only have kids in 6th grade or younger, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fallon Mother is correct that for every one that opposes Tassajara Prep, there are ten that support it. It is those parents who will have the biggest say in whether Tassajara Prep is wanted, not the rest of you.
You can say “we agree to disagree” whenever you want about anything in an attempt to dismiss valid points, but that doesn’t make them any less valid. I think it’s obvious to most parents at east-side elementary schools that what Fallon Mother stated is probably true.
Honesty Matters
6:04 PM on March 4th, 2010
Hi James,
“Honesty Matters” makes a good point about your credibility. When you say that you are “just giving parents another point of view”, it’s really a shame you won’t admit that you are not JUST doing that. Can’t you be honest and disclose that your intent has always been to stop Tassajara Prep, no matter what? That was clear from your first postings on this blog right after Tassajara Prep was announced. It would not have mattered to you whatever their charter petition eventually stated, because you would have criticized it anyway. It does not matter to you who their founders are or if they have kids in Dublin schools, because you would attack the founders no matter who they were. Those are just some of the obvious “red herrings” that you keep using to try to divert attention from the fact that all you have wanted, from day one, was to kill the Tassajara Prep movement because you perceived it as a personal attack on your daughter’s high school. If only you had the integrity to admit it, more people might respect you. You are providing a valuable service by publicizing Dublin High students’ accomplishments, promoting school pride, pushing for higher standards, and educating the community about the high school. It’s important that parents have all the information they need to decide where to send their kids. I also think that you are having a beneficial effect on Dublin High by forcing the school administration and district office to improve the school in the face of the charter school effort. Those are all positive things, and you should be proud that you have spearheaded those changes. So why can’t you stop being so underhanded and deceptive about your true motivations and intentions with regards to Tassajara Prep? Instead of having to apologize someday for your negative and dishonest campaign when Tassajara Prep is proven to be an outstanding high school that attracts more families to Dublin and elevates all education in the city, why not stop now before you alienate any more of your neighbors on the east side? Stop your mudslinging and you’ll feel better. How about stepping aside from your mean spirited and selfish crusade against Tassajara Prep and re-focussing your efforts on promoting and improving Dublin High? You obviously have a lot of time and energy to devote to supporting Dublin High, and everybody wants a better Dublin High, so why don’t you concentrate on that? We’d all appreciate it.
5:29 PM on March 5th, 2010
This is my last posting on the Around Dublin blog. From day one I have been opposed to the charter high school concept – I’m surprised that a mystery to anyone but since there seems to be a need to hear me say it, there you go. If Tassajara Prep opens and is wildly successful – and doesn’t harm Dublin High – I will admit I was wrong.
1:16 PM on March 6th, 2010
James,
If that really is you promising to stop posting on Around Dublin, and I kind of doubt it because of the brevity and the typo, I think you are making a mistake. As “Anonymous 3/4/10″ stated, “You are providing a valuable service by publicizing Dublin High students’ accomplishments, promoting school pride, pushing for higher standards, and educating the community about the high school.” You should continue doing that on this blog and elsewhere. With only 216 students per grade, Tassajara Prep is not going to have anywhere near the capacity to serve all the high school students from the east side. We need Dublin HS to become an outstanding high school for the benefit of all Dublin. Dublin HS needs to become academically comparable or superior to Amador Valley, Foothill, Dougherty Valley, California, San Ramon Valley, and Monte Vista high schools in order to keep parents from moving away from Dublin and to attract more families to Dublin. I think Tassajara Prep has the potential to do that, and I believe Dublin HS can too.
Are you aware that there are already more than 320 students in 1st grade at Green, Fallon, and Dougherty? That number is going to get much bigger as thousands of new homes are built in east Dublin, especially when more families with kids are attracted to the area because of Tassajara Prep. There’s a reason the district is planning to build three or four more elementary schools on the east side.
The school board made a huge mistake ten years ago when it cancelled plans to build a high school in Dublin Ranch, so thank goodness Tassajara Prep will be here in a few years to help overcome that bad decision. I predict that a lottery will be required for admittance to Tassajara Prep within the first few years, and possibly even the first year. I’m not real happy about that, because I would love for my kids to attend Tassajara Prep if the school turns out as I expect. However, I understand the appeal and advantages of a smaller high school, so I’m going to have to take my chances. Unfortunately, the reality is that a lot of east-side kids are not going to get into Tassajara Prep, especially as parents from the west side decide that they are willing to drive across town in order to have their kids in a smaller, college prep high school.
So it’s important that Dublin HS be the best high school it can be, because my kids may be going there. So please continue your efforts to promote and improve Dublin HS. Just stop bashing Tassajara Prep and your efforts will magically become all positive.
Dan
10:48 AM on March 9th, 2010
Bravo.
1:17 PM on March 2nd, 2010
Go ahead with Tassajara Prep. I am not going to participate in the development of it, but I will send my kid there if it’s successful. Otherwise, DHS is adequate. I like the option.
5:35 PM on March 3rd, 2010
Fallon, Mother, well-said!
2:55 PM on March 4th, 2010
James, what is your answer to the big exodus of parents from East Dublin to San ramon and Pleasanton. In the past 3 years, I have had half my neigbors rent and move to the nearby cities. Why? They do not want to commute the other side of town for a school that is ‘still under construction’. Unless you keep giving enough choices to folks in East dublin, folks are going to find other ways to get to nearby city schools. Dont get me wrong. My child will probably go to Dublin high but that doesn’t stop me from being scared about funds being diverted to TP. I just think City of Dublin needs to find another way to meet the needs of folks in East Dublin. It will retain housing market and will benefit everyone in the long run.
And yes, I agree with Fallon Mother. 90% of my neighbors in East Dublin are keeping their fingers crossed for Tassajara prep or another high school to eventually be built this side of Dublin.
6:07 PM on March 4th, 2010
James,
I have watched this and your site since I heard about the proposed school. I must tell you that you are taking liberties that our community is not comfortable with. You are not the spokesman of Dublin. You have made your point – over and over again. I find it ironic that you are among the very few of the “opposition” who post here, yet you claim to have “thousands” of people who share your viewpoint. My guess is you do have about 3700 supporters – The students and parents at DHS who will be moved by fear and pushed by the school and district to rally behind this “cause”. Who beyond that group? VERY FEW is my guess.
Mike
10:08 PM on March 4th, 2010
Thank you Fallon Father Mike for saying what so many of us have been thinking. I, my neighbors, my friends, and the parents I’ve spoken to at Green are so impressed, amazed, and grateful that there is a group of residents that has been willing to step up and work so hard to put together what we have all been hoping for for years. That is, a professional & comprehensive plan for a public high school on the east side. They have performed this magnanimous task without compensation of any kind, and have obviously spent a lot of their own money on this project, and yet have faced a continuous onslaught of petty attacks, criticism, and innuendoes from the James Gang. Talk about ingratitude! Now the school district is spending precious funds to fight this proposal. Too bad they, and their self-appointed spokesman, won’t concede what they know is true, that it’s what parents on the east side desire, that it’s the right thing to do, that it’s going to result in a huge improvement in Dublin education over time, and it’s going to happen with or without their costly opposition and community-dividing attacks.
The final straw was when James stated that “it is clear from many anonymous postings on this blog that part of the Tri-Valley Learning Corp. strategy, mainly via proxies, is to denigrate Dublin High.” That motivated me to finally post my first comment on this blog. I’m shocked that even James would stoop to making up such an unfounded and disingenuous claim. His repeated attempts to demonize the people that have volunteered their time to work so hard on establishing a charter high school is a very poor reflection on James himself.
Green Father Dan
5:45 PM on March 7th, 2010
James has probably stopped writing about this because he already knows that DUSD is going to recommend against Tassajara Prep.
DUSD’s recommendation to deny the charter petition is on the agenda for the March 9 DUSD Board Meeting. http://bit.ly/aekRkO
2:11 PM on May 21st, 2010
For those who are in favor of the Tassajara Prep High School, I’d like to inform you that there is talk from the opposing side to fundraise to pay for buses in order to go and fight against the idea when it goes to the State level. If you feel strongly about having the charter school, you may want to do the same.
5:56 PM on May 23rd, 2010
Why don’t they fundraise to provide school buses for the East Dublin residents who will have teens going to the High School on the other side of town? Demographics will talk and when East Dublin residents will make more than 50% of DHS and it becomes overcrowded, no argument will justify one public high school for Dublin. What was the population of Pleasanton when it added its second public high school in 1973?
7:29 PM on May 23rd, 2010
If DHS reaches capacity at full build-out and becomes crowded, clearly another high school will be added to the city. Dublin isn’t there yet, not even close. Therefore…no need for a 2nd high school yet.
12:08 AM on May 24th, 2010
Do you really understand his argument? What is the population for Pleasanton in 1973 when they had the second high school? I bet it will be much less than what Dublin is going to have in three to five years.
2:39 AM on May 24th, 2010
why don’t you do some research and answer your question? useless post.
11:27 AM on May 24th, 2010
I do not need to do that research. I know the answer. You are just so stupid that you could not understand other people’s point. Your answer to the previous poster is more useless than junk.
10:03 AM on May 22nd, 2010
Another fine example of your Measure L money at work…
10:21 PM on June 5th, 2010
I now understand why people feel the way they do about Around Dublin, whose slogan shouldn’t be “your guide to Dublin”, but instead should read “your source for misguided information”.
11:36 PM on June 7th, 2010
But you still do not understand OD is extremely misleading and biased towards the charter school initiative? Or you are too biased to see that?
8:11 PM on July 10th, 2010
So where is the proposed site for TP??
8:13 PM on July 10th, 2010
What was the verdict regarding the charter petition from the March 9th Board Meeting? Accept or Deny?
6:52 AM on July 12th, 2010
Hi Anonymous – the Alameda County Board of Education denied Tassajara Prep’s petition. The petition will next be presented to the State for approval. Tassajara Prep’s founders are confident that the State will approve the petition for a school opening in fall of 2012. In the meantime, Dublin high school students can attend Livermore Valley Charter Prep.
Thx, John Z.
10:09 AM on July 12th, 2010
in your dreams!
11:03 AM on August 12th, 2010
The board voted not to build the prep high school that East Dublin wishes to have…don’t be fooled. The residents of East Dublin do not want their children to go to school with West Dublin kids.
I was at camp with my 5th graders about three years ago and actually had a parent tell me that the East Dublin parents did not want their children associating with West Dublin kids. She did not realize I was a teacher in West Dublin. How elitist these parents are! And what messages are they sending to their kids? Two high schools will split the city…and we in Dublin do not want that to happen. The parents of East Dublin have threatened to send their children through middle school only and then send them to a private high school. (let them do it…They do have Quarry Lane which is a private high school in East Dublin and Valley Christian in the West hills…they are both pricey.) So be it…to each his own. Don’t try to jam your beliefs down our West Dublin throats. (They managed to get 5th grade camp changed from Loma Mar near Pescadero on the coast to Livermore…they didn’t want their children so far from home.) West Dublin parents need to be as vocal as East Dublin…don’t let them dictate how to run the school district.
12:28 PM on August 12th, 2010
I am confused. Who is running the DUSD now? East Dubliners have no voice or whatsoever on the board. Current DUSD board completely aligns with the interests of West Dublin. On the contrary, the problem with Dublin is that people from West Dublin are too vocal and too much in control of the political machines in Dublin.