West Seattle’s first charter school to open in August 2016 after getting state-commission approval today

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(June 2015 WSB photo of future charter-school site at 35th & Roxbury)

Summit Public Schools has just cleared a major hurdle in its plan to open West Seattle’s first charter school at the site of what’s currently the Freedom Church/Jesus Center at 35th and Roxbury – the state Charter School Commission, chaired by West Seattle resident Steve Sundquist, approved the plan today at a meeting in Georgetown.

Summit, a California-based organization, is opening its first two Washington schools this fall, in the International District and in Tacoma, and plans to open this one in fall of next year, phasing in middle- and high-school grades over four years, starting with 6th and 9th grades in year 1. As we’ve reported during coverage going back to January, Washington Charter School Development already has purchased the site for $4.75 million and plans first to remodel its supermarket-turned-church building, later adding onto it.

We’re seeking comment from Summit managers, who told us last month that as soon as this approval came through, they would proceed full speed ahead with setting up the school and recruiting students. By authorization of state voters, charter schools get public funding, and are open to all; Summit told us last month that if more students apply than they have room for, they’ll use a lottery to assign the spots.

Gareth August 13, 2015 (3:14 pm)

So when there is a short fall in funding to our public schools are our students going to loose a teacher or is funding going to be cut from the charter schools?

Melissa Westbrook August 13, 2015 (3:16 pm)

I attended the Charter Commission meeting today where this vote was taken. A couple of important issues to note (and these are straight from the Charter Commission members):

WSB August 13, 2015 (3:31 pm)

Mel – your comment cut short, but if this is something you’ll be writing about on your site, I’ll certainly add a link. – TR

Melissa Westbrook August 13, 2015 (3:45 pm)

I attended today’s meeting and there was more to the Summit approval than just a yes vote.

1) Commissioners were concerned that the three Summit schools in our region will be oversee by just a three-person Board. (They believe those three people are fully-qualified but wondered why there are not plans for more people.)

Summit had a non-committal answer but it’s a valid question.

2) The much bigger and contentious question was over the fact that Summit is a CA-based charter chain but will now operate in WA state. Their management wording states that the CA Board has the final word. Naturally, a couple of Commissioners saw that and asked about how they can be assured that the WA Board will be accountable if they themselves are accountable to the CA Board.

At first, Summit tried to jargon their way out of this issue, talking about collaboration and being the CA board being “uber” effective and the WA board not going “rogue” with the brand that was so good.

Commissioner Navarro from Yakima was not convinced so he pressed the question.

Summit said that they believed that since it was so collaborative that they would not (and have not had these issues). (Indeed, the Commission has approved the other two Summit schools previous to this third one.)

Then it came to comments and Commissioner Dziko said she would vote yes…but with conditions. She felt that it simply was not clear that Summit could say that they would not have to follow the lead of the CA Board. Dziko said that she felt there was a “solution” but looked to Summit for it.

They did ask the Commission’s legal rep but she seemed unsure and it does seem like a murky question.

President Sundquist tried to smooth things over by pointing out Summit’s great record in California but yes, they had this issue with Green Dot charters as well (which is also California-based). Commissioner Dziko said that the Commission was responsible for Washington State children and took that very seriously.

“I was not convinced and colloboration and all that stuff but push comes to shove, I’m not convinced you can make big decisions on your own.”

They seemed to all agree to go on with voting yes after Navarro pointed this out: “the applicant signed agreement to be independent and operate under WA RCW.”

The Commission then approved Summit’s charter. Dziko also went on record that she had attended the forum in WestSeattle and was very disappointed that Summit felt it necessary to take the tickets that allowed for public testimony and hand them out to their supporters. She said Summit has a good enough track record that they shouldn’t need to do that. She said it made the meeting off-putting (which is some that was commented on here at WSB in the reporting on the meeting).

So the Commissioners will be watchful over whether there are issues that come from Summit being California-based. The Ex Director of the Commission, Joshua Halsey also said that it is important for charter applicants to answer questions fully – even if hypothetical – so that Commissioners know that the applicant has full and complete answers to any problems.

WSB August 13, 2015 (3:49 pm)

Thanks for the added info. I wish I could have covered today’s meeting; glad that our area’s pre-eminent education reporter was there! I didn’t include a link to our coverage that you mentioned of the West Seattle hearing on July 21st but it’s here: https://westseattleblog.com/2015/07/happening-now-official-state-hearing-for-what-would-be-west-seattles-first-charter-school/

WSMom August 13, 2015 (3:47 pm)

Nice to have for profit schools that our tax dollars pay for.

anonyme August 13, 2015 (4:11 pm)

I’m so thrilled that Washington State taxpayer’s public education dollars will be going to a private company in Californica, while the outline for accountability just gets murkier and murkier.

Thanks to Melissa for getting the truth through this fog of obfuscation put forth by Summit.

Kadoo August 13, 2015 (4:40 pm)

California, the state that once posted guards in classrooms so teachers wouldn’t teach phonics, thus hamstringing students for whom whole language methods didn’t work. Why on earth would we let a CA company be involved in WA education?

Eric1 August 13, 2015 (5:03 pm)

I am glad to see that there will be competition to Seattle Public Schools. Summit may not be ideal but I would guess that detractors wouldn’t like Anne Sullivan as a teacher in a charter school.
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I compare Seattle Schools to Comcast. The city “franchises” a monopoly that is big and unresponsive. In the 1990’s you needed to spend big bucks on a satellite system (private schools). How many people love Comcast? Comcast is only changing its ways because of innovations like Hulu, streaming videos, and dish tv. It is the same way with Seattle Schools. If there isn’t competition, they have no incentive to change their ways. I am sure Comcast did its best to stifle competition as well.

pjmanley August 13, 2015 (5:26 pm)

So Summit stacked the deck at the WS forum to manufacture consent for their agenda, making a mockery of public engagement and transparency, yet the commission goes ahead and approves them anyways. Chomsky called it Manufactured Consent for a reason, yet they wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work – like it did with the Charter Commission. (Get the feeling some well-heeled string-pullers want this done?) Call this sham whatever you want, but don’t call it Democracy, ’cause it ain’t.

Orca August 13, 2015 (7:06 pm)

It looks like the teachers union has called out the troops to blast this decision. Look for a massive number of comments smearing the concept of charter schools.

They seem to be better at this than teaching our children.

WSB August 13, 2015 (7:21 pm)

Orca, so far the comments on this thread are all from people who have been longtime participants in WSB discussion on a variety of topics. Are they teachers? Don’t know. We’ve been reporting on this for six months now and haven’t seen any “massive turnout” of people from any side, pro, con, or questioning. Spirited discussion, certainly, but 53 comments was the longest thread, and out of 100,000 readers, that’s barely a blip. Anyway, while checking the archives, I also found our mention of the Times story on how this area (and others) voted on the charter-school initiative – and in West Seattle, it was mostly a “no” vote, even the area where this school’s going to open. Just a datapoint! https://westseattleblog.com/2012/12/marriage-marijuana-charter-schools-how-west-seattle-voted – Tracy

PSPS August 13, 2015 (7:34 pm)

When you pay your property taxes, just make the check out to the Mercedes dealership where the CEO lives.

Dogsforpeace August 13, 2015 (8:32 pm)

I am all for informed and educated discourse. All of the charter schools in Washington state are nonprofit.

Scott August 13, 2015 (8:46 pm)

Tracy – good point, but that datapoint is now almost three years old. Many that opposed or were formerly on the fence about the idea of charter schools have reached the point that they’ve had to consider these alternatives in addition to private schools, sending out of district, and even relocation. There comes a point where magic beans sound pretty darn good.

Community Member August 13, 2015 (8:51 pm)

Regardless of the issue, I am surprised that you can have a situation in which someone on a supervisory commission scolds an applicant for abusing the open application system, and then the commission gives approval anyway.

Is this how all public commissions operate? Why not save money and time and effort and simply abolish the public meetings?

pjmanley August 14, 2015 (1:07 am)

Non-profits. Sure. Wait until you see what their non-teacher administrators make. The business might not show a profit at the end of the year, but many highly paid administrative, non-teacher bank accounts will.

WSparent August 14, 2015 (9:28 am)

A victory for parental choices. Seattle Schools did not serve my child well at all, wish we had more options back then! And wow, the comments once again reveal how a loud group wants to jam the status quo down everyone elses throats. If you object to the school don’t send your kid there, that’s the beauty of choice, options, and free markets.

East of 35th August 14, 2015 (9:28 am)

Can’t be a worse option than sending my kids to Sealth, where they would currently go.

skeeter August 14, 2015 (11:33 am)

Are teacher unions against charter schools because the teachers at charters are paid less? Or are they concerned the teachers at charters are unqualified?

I understand why taxi drivers hate uber. uber charges less and therefore threatens the earning potential of taxi drivers. But public schools are free to attend so I don’t see why the teachers unions would oppose them.

Lynn August 14, 2015 (11:41 am)

Scott,

Enrollment in Seattle Public Schools is increasing by 1,000 students a year. That suggests that parents are not feeling forced to consider charter schools, private schools, out of district placement or relocation. What makes you think public schools have become less attractive to families in West Seattle over the last three years?

Lynn August 14, 2015 (11:44 am)

Skeeter,

You might find this helpful in answering your question.
http://ourvoicewashingtonea.org/wea-challenges-charter-school-initiative/

Melissa Westbrook August 14, 2015 (11:58 am)

To clarify on the law, all charters must be start and managed by non-profits but for-profit companies can be hired to run operations.

Also to note, the law allows charters to access levy dollars for public education. That means that this Summit school, as well as First Place Scholars (the only other Seattle charter), will receive some share of the next two Seattle Schools district levy dollars from the two levies coming in Feb. 2016 if they pass. That will have a direct impact – both from the Operations and Capital side – to Seattle Public Schools.

You have to ask if those charter schools are going to do the work to pass the levies that Seattle Public School PTAs do.

Skeeter, I think the teachers unions have mixed feelings on charters. Most charter law, including Washington’s, allowed charter teachers to unionize (the majority of charters have no unions and discourage them). But it’s hard to be a one-school union (charters In WA state are their own districts and so teachers at a charter school cannot join WEA).

Green Dot charters has set up its own union for teachers but it is unclear to me how that works.

Recently, charter teachers at a charter in Chicago – along with substitute teachers – were not allowed to vote on a union with their school saying they were not teachers.

Melissa Westbrook August 14, 2015 (11:59 am)

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\outl0\strokewidth0 \strokec2 To clarify on the law, all charters must be start and managed by non-profits but for-profit companies can be hired to run operations. \
\
Also to note, the law allows charters to access levy dollars for public education. That means that this Summit school, as well as First Place Scholars (the only other Seattle charter), will receive some share of the next two Seattle Schools district levy dollars from the two levies coming in Feb. 2016 if they pass. That will have a direct impact – both from the Operations and Capital side – to Seattle Public Schools. \
\
You have to ask if those charter schools are going to do the work to pass the levies that Seattle Public School PTAs do. \
\
Skeeter, I think the teachers unions have mixed feelings on charters. Most charter law, including Washington’s, allowed charter teachers to unionize (the majority of charters have no unions and discourage them). But it’s hard to be a one-school union (charters In WA state are their own districts and so teachers at a charter school cannot join WEA).\
\
Green Dot charters has set up its own union for teachers but it is unclear to me how that works.\
\
Recently, charter teachers at a charter in Chicago – along with substitute teachers – were not allowed to vote on a union with their school saying they were not teachers. \
}

dawsonct August 14, 2015 (12:17 pm)

Eric1, that’s a BS analogy. If I don’t like the direction any of my public agencies are going, including our schools, I can run for a seat on the school board or the local council.
At the very least, I have elected representatives who are accountable to me. If you choose not to use your leverage over public officials, that is your fault, not the fault of the system.
—-
I can not, on the other hand, run for the board of directors of Comcast, nor can I in any way influence their decision-making, unless I own a large percentage of Comcast stock.
Don’t be a dupe.

skeeter August 14, 2015 (1:07 pm)

Thanks for the link Lynn.

That’s the “official” line from the unions. They oppose charter schools because they believe students will be worse off.

I’m a little cynical though. I suspect teachers unions are concerned with more than just student welfare. There is not always an alignment between what is best for teachers and what is best for students.

Lynn August 14, 2015 (1:41 pm)

That’s OK skeeter. I’m suspicious of out of state companies taking our tax dollars and providing our most vulnerable students with computers and “community partners” in the place of trained educators.

skeeter August 14, 2015 (2:20 pm)

Good point Lynn. Let’s be hopeful that parents are able to make good decisions about what education options are best for their children.

Eric1 August 14, 2015 (4:52 pm)

@dawson
.
I won’t get into personal insults with you but…
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You probably could run for the Comcast board. You just wouldn’t win. I could run for city council, I won’t win either. Look at the recent district one race. Who are the top two? Insiders already well supported by their generous donors.
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I participate in trying to shape public schools. I have been to and spoken at board and community meetings. You can make a difference at that level but you won’t be able to make any major changes in what the district does. Even if you got elected to the board, it isn’t as if the other members have really stood up for change. Nothing changes the fact that the Seattle School District is a giant entity that faces no real competition and has no reason to change.
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This isn’t about shutting down Seattle schools or displacing teachers. This is about providing different choices so that parents may be able to better match their children to a school that better reflects their personality. We are talking about a few hundred students. If you don’t like what Summit offers don’t take them up on it.
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I am just amazed that so many people are using the “I am against it because I care about your child” holier-than-thou attitude when they have no skin in the game so to speak. What should worry people is that so many parents are willing to risk sending their kids to Summit BECAUSE Seattle schools are so bad.

pjmanley August 15, 2015 (10:26 am)

Here’s just one article of thousands (for those interested), which reveals much of what’s wrong with Charters in the U.S. “Miracles” that aren’t. Financial scandals, skimming, etc. Not all Charters are bad, but Jeb Bush’s legacy in Florida is replete with reasons why we need caution, oversight, and accountability here in Seattle, and in WA. For-profit Charter Management companies running non-profit schools should shoot up red flags right away. Get educated and informed, people. (And yes, this article is from a Leftist rag, but it’s also 100% factual).

http://www.alternet.org/education/big-jeb-bush-charter-school-lie-why-his-florida-education-miracle-hogwash

pjmanley August 15, 2015 (10:30 am)

And for those who might favor charters, the above article is a good read for you too, as a cautionary tale of mistakes and problems to avoid. And look, I like free markets and competition too. But Education isn’t like buying a car. The kids are only 15 once, right? So, the old saw of consumer end-users voting with their feet doesn’t apply in this “market.” We’ve got to get it right from the get-go.

Sorry, comment time is over.