This is an opportunity for the public to address the Board regarding items on the Closed Session agenda only. Each speaker has 3 minutes to address the Board and speakers may not cede unused time to other speakers. Per BB 9323, there is a maximum of 20 minutes of comments per topic. With Board consent the President may increase or decrease the time allowed for public comments, depending on the topic and the number of persons wishing to speak. 

Depending upon the nature of the comments, the Board President or Superintendent may respond or the President may call upon Board members for brief comments, questions of clarification, provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, or request the Superintendent to report back to the Board at a subsequent meeting concerning the matter. All comments are recorded in full on the meeting video record and DVD copies of the complete meeting are available to check out from the Superintendent's office for three business days or for purchase for $1.00. When addressing the Board, it is helpful if you state your name and address for the record.

Depending upon the nature of the comments, the Board President or Superintendent may respond or the President may call upon Board members for brief comments, questions of clarification, provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information, or request the Superintendent to report back to the Board at a subsequent meeting concerning the matter. All comments are recorded in full on the meeting video record and DVD copies of the complete meeting are available to check out from the Superintendent's office for three business days or for purchase for $1.00. When addressing the Board, it is helpful if you state your name and address for the record.

The Board may hold comments on Discussion/Action Calendar items to be heard during the Board's consideration of that item.

1. The charter school presents an unsound educational program for the pupils to be enrolled.

2. The petitioners are demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program set forth in the charter.

3. The petition does not contain the required number of signatures.

4. The petition does not include required affirmations.

5. The petition does not contain reasonably comprehensive descriptions of all of the 15 required charter elements.

6. The petition does not contain a declaration of whether the charter school will be deemed the exclusive public employer of employees of the charter school for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act.

On September 25, 2018, the Board of Education received the ISSAC Charter during an open, public meeting, thereby commencing the timelines for the action on the Charter.  In accordance with the Charter Schools Act, the Board of Education held a hearing on the provisions of the Charter on October 25, 2018, at which time the Board of Education considered the level of support for this Charter by teachers employed by the District, other employees of the District, and parents.  During that hearing, the lead petitioner, an ISSAC Board member, and two parents spoke in favor of the petition.  No District teachers and no other District employees or parents spoke in favor of the Charter, but the President of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers as well as other District residents and community members spoke in opposition to the Charter.

The District administration and legal counsel conducted a comprehensive analysis of the ISSAC Charter petition and assessed it against the standards and requirements set forth in the Charter Schools Act of 1992 in order to develop final recommendations.  District administrative staff noted a large number of issues and concerns with the proposal set forth in the Charter, including issues/deficiencies supporting four of the legal findings for denial of a charter petition.  Several of the most significant of the concerns noted by the District administrative team and legal counsel are included as proposed factual findings in the recommended Resolution of Denial (attached).

Current Consideration:
Based on its review and analysis of the ISSAC Charter Petition, the District administrative staff believes that approving the ISSAC Charter is not consistent with sound educational practice and recommends that the Board of Education deny the Charter and make written factual findings supporting the denial.

Approved by:
Navarro/Lee-Sung/Legal
Board Agenda
November 13, 2018