Parents and school-reformers in Point Loma are so upset with the Board of Education, there's now talk of turning all of their schools into charter schools and perhaps even dropping-out of the school district.
This has been an ongoing issue in Point Loma. It was originally suggested a few years ago, but never got off the ground after the school district promised neighborhood schools more autonomy, but they never got it.
For years, neighborhood schools have been promised more control over budgets, over school reforms, and more local autonomy.
New board member Scott Barnett says for whatever reasons it hasn't happened. "There has been concern over the years over the fact you have this huge ed-center, with its bureaucracy and regulations, and I think ultimately the local districts, schools, would like to have more authority," said Barnett.
The preliminary discussions right now are about charter schools. A plan may develop from an upcoming parent meeting to find out if charters are where they want to go.
Former School Board Member John Debeck once laid out a plan to give neighborhood schools more autonomy but the board never acted on the plan.
Parents in Point Loma want their schools to be free from labor agreements that prevent student performance being a factor in evaluating teachers, and they want to hire, and be able to fire teachers. They want the authority to be flexible.
The great success stories in San Diego, the Preuss School, and High Tech Hi have significant outside financing. But those successes are difficult to repeat. Going charter doesn't necessarily solve all of your problems and, overall, they actually get less money than if they're part of the school district.
If autonomy is the goal, it seems there are two ways to go. One way is a charter school, the other is to leave San Diego Unified and form your own school district.
