South Bay Prep
a free, public,
charter school, open to all students;
a small school, with
20-25 students per multi-age advisory group and about 50 students per grade,
with a positive, democratic school culture and involved parents;
innovative teaching methods: hands-on, interdisciplinary projects; performance-based
assessment; and advancement through mastery;
all students are prepared for admission to college, with personalized learning
and curriculum based on California content standards;
a member of the EdVisions Schools national
network.
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We're well on our way to approval: we submitted our charter and had our public hearing to gauge community interest. Thank you to those who spoke so eloquently on behalf of South Bay Prep - your voices were heard clearly. See below for more information on the public interest and decision hearings and how to voice your support, especially if you didn't speak at the public interest hearing.
Drop us a line if you have any questions or want to get involved. There are a lot of small things to be done that busy people can work into their schedules. School opening is only a short time away with lots to do before then.
And, as always, please forward this email to anyone you know who is interested in an alternative for middle
and high school.
Chris Duckering
Coleen Wagner
Felicia Gershberg
Paul Strauss
Vicky Gray-Clark
South Bay Prep Board of Directors
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Voice Your Support!
through email, fax, and letters to the CUHSD Board. Keep in mind the following points:- Be positive!
- Share your enthusiasm and excitement for South Bay Prep
- Say what you think the school will bring to the community
- Talk about what your child needs and would gain from this type of education
- Talk about choice and options
- Ask the Board members to vote to approve the school
- Ask the Superintendent to recommend approval
- AND please be sure to send us a copy
(cc: info@southbayprep.org on email)
Campbell Union High School District
3235 Union Ave.
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 371-0960
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Information Meeting
November 19th
6:30 - 8:00
We know that many of you have only recently learned about South Bay Prep, and many others have questions about EdVisions and what it brings to SBP. We will be holding an Information Meeting with Kathleen O'Sullivan, National Director of EdVisions Schools on Monday, November 19th. Kathleen will present information on what EdVisions schools are all about and answer any questions you might have concerning the EdVisions model of project-based learning.
If you missed the EdVisions information meeting in August, then please find time in your schedule to attend. This is your opportunity to find out from the expert what EdVisions and project-based learning are all about. We look forward to seeing you there! Please forward this newsletter on to others who may be interested in attending and hearing about a new model of learning for middle and high school students. You can use the "forward email to a friend" link at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Public Hearing and Decision
While the hearing was quite successful, the number of people in attendance supporting SBP was disappointing. Perhaps the timing was inconvenient for you or you thought that many others would represent you or you're just tired of hearings. It is crucial to show the Campbell Union High School District (CUHSD) Board and Superintendent the extent of our community support. We would like to see many more people at the decision meeting on December 6th and have lots of letters of support go out (see Voice Your Support above).
We had 20 minutes to present our school including all public comment. This was not the time for the CUHSD board members to ask questions or make comments - it was a time for them to simply listen to the community. SBP's board president, Coleen Wagner, gave background on the genesis of the school and introduced our professional partners. SBP's lead petitioner, Felicia Gershberg talked about our educational philosophy and the EdVisions model and what SBP will bring to the CUHSD. Then, supporters spoke to what they were looking for in a school and why they saw a need for SBP in the community. We want to thank those who spoke so eloquently on behalf of the school. Each of you made clear and concise points and represented a diversity of views that came together to form a unified message of support for South Bay Prep. Your voice had a big impact on the board members. They were listening intently.
At the end of our presentation and public comment the CUHSD board president, Diane Gordon, commented on how the board is usually focused on the things supporting education of students and how rarely they get to think about the real job of educating our students. She thanked us for giving them the opportunity to focus on education for a while.
After the board meeting, we talked briefly with some of the board members. They were very friendly and some commented on how they were already very deep into reviewing the petition. There was at least one joke about the size of the petition (400+ pages)!
The decision hearing is Thursday, December 6th. This is the opportunity for the CUHSD board to ask questions, make comments, and hear again from the petitioners. Don't assume your neighbors will be there - come and show your support for SBP!
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