A request that Jurupa schools approve a charter school at Flabob
Airport appears headed for defeat when it comes before the school board
Tuesday, Jan. 22.
In her report on the charter petition for the
proposed Tom Wathen Center-Big Picture Aviation Academy, attorney Dina
Harris raises questions about the project’s budget and cash flow, and
educational program.
“The Charter Petition presents an unsound
educational program for the pupils to be enrolled in the Charter
School,” Harris states.
Bill Sawin, president and chief executive
officer of the Tom Wathen Center, which owns Flabob Airport, said he
wasn’t happy with Harris’ review and that she overlooked many of the
positives about the proposal
“I think she’s wrong,” Sawin said. “They’re looking at nuts and bolts. All those things are fixable.”
“This kind of school opens the doors for so many things,” he said.
Charter
schools operate with public money but are free of many of the
regulations that govern regular public schools. However, there remain
many regulations that they must follow.
Sawin said the Wathen
Center is partnering with Big Picture Schools California to establish a
comprehensive high school with an emphasis on aviation studies.
The
school would open in fall for the 2013-14 school year. It would start
with 9th and 10th grades, and 11th and 12th grades would be added over
the next two years respectively.
The Jurupa Unified School
District board held a public hearing on the proposal in November, when
parents and students enrolled at the existing Tom Wathen Academy, also a
charter school, expressed support for the charter school petition.
Sawin
said the existing aviation academy will vacate its modular classrooms
at Flabob Airport to make way for the new charter school.
The Tom
Wathen Center hopes to break ground on a school building in spring 2014
that will include classrooms, offices and a meeting room.
If the
Jurupa school board follows its attorney’s recommendation and votes down
the charter petition, Sawin said it would be submitted to the Riverside
County Office of Education.
“We’ll open our doors for t he fall
semester,” Sawin said. “I wish we could have had a working relationship
with Jurupa because it would benefit everyone.”
CHARTER SCHOOL PITCH
WHAT:
The Jurupa school board will consider a charter petition for The Tom
Wathen Center – Big Picture Aviation Academy at Flabob Airport.
WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Benita B. Roberts Education Center, 4850 Pedley Road, Jurupa Valley.
INFORMATION: 951-360-4100.
Source: http://www.pe.com
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