#edgap

Don't shoot the bear, Betsy! #PublicEdFirst #EdEquity #EdGap (at Kansas City Academy)

#PublicEdFirst #EdEquity #EdGap (at Kansas City Academy)

Rally for education #PublicEdFirst #EdEquity #EdGap (at Kansas City Academy)

Ms Noguchi does a good job laying out some of the inherent struggles in finding adequate and appropriate spaces for charter schools, a proposition that is becoming increasingly difficult as charter schools expand and school facilities do not. The topography is further complicated when a district needs to house students from outside of the school district; in other words, students that the district would not otherwise be obligated to accommodate, thus increasing the number of students overall using district facilities. In addition, if a school district denies or does not renew a charter school's charter but the County Board of Education then approves or renews, the school district is still obligated to provide facilities. I am supportive of the work that high performing charter schools are doing with some of our community's most underserved children and admire many of their innovations, philosophies and learning cultures. As a school board trustee, I am also deeply aware of the concerns of diverse stakeholders who talk with me about traffic impact, overcrowding, additional construction, parking, green space contraction, co-location benefits and challenges, "highest use of space" and whether that means highest rent or tenant who provides highest value to students, recruitment tactics and more. These are complex issues with many moving parts. Gloria Lee of New Schools Venture Fund is quoted in the article comparing the facilities placement struggle as a "big game of sudoku"; my image was one of a Rubik's cube, but clearly we are on the same page there. I contend that a charter compact is the best way to work through these challenges. As also noted in Ms Noguchi's piece, with regard to SJUSD and its charter partners, that process is currently stalled and trust and open communication need to be resumed on both sides so we can all move forward to best support students. I am all in and eager to make this work.