Oxford Preparatory Academy of Mission Viejo (OPAMV) filed a 300-page charter for its proposed tuition-free college-prep K-8 school in the Saddleback School District.
The SVUSD Trustees will conduct a public hearing on the matter at its meeting this Tuesday, November 10, at 6:15pm. The Board won’t take action at the hearing. It has until December 1 to make objections to OPA’s student enrollment projections, and has until December 29 to approve or deny the application.
OPA also sent a Request for Facilities letter dated October 30 requesting the closed O’Neill School be provided as its facility, although the District could identify another school location with comparable specifications as other public schools. SVUSD must make a preliminary facility designation by February 1 if the charter is approved. Final notification regarding the designated facility would be required by March 1.
The school calendar specifies September 7, 2010 as the first day of school. Under state law the District would have to make the facility available at least 10 working days in advance. The request is for access on or before August 16, 2010.
A letter to Superintendent Fish outlines the leadership and credentials of OPA. Although it doesn’t yet operate a charter school, the Letter cites impressive success in elementary education for founders Sue Roche and Jason Watts:
Oxford Preparatory Academy of Mission Viejo is co-founded by Sue Roche, Principal of Edwin Rhodes Elementary School (Chino, CA) and Jason Watts, Assistant Principal of Chaparral Elementary School (Chino Hills, CA). Mrs. Roche and Mr. Watts have extensive, successful track records that reasonably indicate the expected high levels of enrollment and success of the Charter School.
Sue Roche
Mrs. Roche opened Rolling Ridge Elementary School (Chino) in 1989 and the school ranked number one in San Bernardino County for California Standardized Testing results for five consecutive years under her leadership. In 1994, she opened Country Springs Elementary School. For five consecutive years while Mrs. Roche was Principal, Country Springs ranked number one in California Standardized Testing results in San Bernardino County. Country Springs also consistently ranked number one in the District for attendance out of 32 schools and became the innovative model for the State of California utilizing the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
In 1999, Mrs. Roche became the Director of Human Resources for the Chino Valley Unified School District. She ensured that all positions were filled within budgets, administered collective bargaining agreements, created and implemented teacher recruiting strategies and assembled recruiting teams in state and nationwide, created substitute teacher program, developed celebratory programs for probationary and tenured teachers, and developed and recommended policies and procedures for the Superintendent’s review and administer same upon adoption by the Board of Education. She worked as Human Resources Director until 2002, at which point she served as the Director of Auxiliary Projects, Categorical Programs, and worked on the preparation of the opening of Edwth Rhodes Elementary, which opened in 2003 with Mrs. Roche as Principal.
Since its opening, Rhodes’ Academic Performance Index (API) score has increased 123 points from the 2003 test year score of 842, with a score of 965 in 2009. At Rhodes, Mrs. Roche has continued to utilize a collegiate theme for the implementation of the school-wide philosophy of Multiple Intelligences. Her educational philosophy that every child is gifted has continued to draw students from outside of the community as well as the country.
Under the leadership of Sue Roche as Principal, Edwin Rhodes Elementary School:
In 2003, Jason Watts was part of the teaching staff that helped to open Edwin Rhodes Elementary. While serving as the sixth grade Gifted and Talented Education (G.A.T.E.) magnet teacher, he was also the Athletic Director (includes Noon League Coordinator/Supervisor), G.A.T.E. Coordinator, Technology Committee Chairperson, and School Site Council Teacher Representative.
In 2006, Jason Watts was hired as the Edwin Rhodes Elementary Assistant Principal. During his three years as Assistant Principal, the administrative team of Mrs. Roche and Mr. Watts increased the school’s API score 77 points, from 888 in 2006 to 965 in 2009. In 2008, he successfully co-authored the California Distinguished School application and the California Service-Learning Leader School Award for Rhodes. Rhodes has also increased scores for all significant sub-groups for six consecutive years.
In 2009, Edwin Rhodes Elementary had the 72nd highest API score amongst all schools in California, regardless of size or type. Of the top 72 schools ranked in the State by API, Rhodes had the highest percentage of Hispanic students at 47%. Due to the track record of Mrs. Roche and Mr. Watts and the student academic performance results of Edwin Rhodes Elementary, the Oxford Preparatory Academy of Mission Viejolead petitioners feel strongly that a K — 7 (K — 8 in year two) school operated by both Mrs. Roche and Mr. Watts would garner significant interest from the community and surrounding Districts.
Interest in the plan seems to be mushrooming. Within 5 days, via only electronic communications, Letters Of Intent to Enroll were received from about 80 families, many with multiple children, including some from outside SVUSD boundaries. The first public informational meeting was subsequently held just last Tuesday. Intent forms are still circulating and could be more than double that number before Tuesday’s hearing. Enrollment priority would be given to SVUSD students.
OPA projected 244 students in K-7 (8th added in 2011) based on the following chart showing the schools and grade level pupils would otherwise attend:
OPA is also petitioning the Chino School District for a charter authorization. That Chino Board held a public hearing on the petition last Thursday and has scheduled the issue for action on December 10.
“This frees us up from the bureaucracy to really focus on what schools should be about – the education of children,” Roche told the Chino Trustees. “Every aspect of the educational program is centered on the students.” (source: Inland Bulletin)
Oxford has retained the services of Jerry Simmons from the law firm of Middleton, Young and Minney, LLP, which represents at least 2/3 of charter schools in the State of California.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
So many parents are really excited about this potential choice in education for their children. I hope it is approved by the local school district.
This is exactly what many parents in our community have been praying for. Hats off to Sue and Jason and the other lead petitioners for getting this off the ground. Lots of CUSD parents are behind them 100% of the way!
We are all very excited about this historic opportunity for Saddleback Valley Unified to offer this wonderful option for primary education which could extend all the way to 8th grade in the future. What a jewel in the crown of this great school district if they vote to open this charter school, as well as a great use for the O’Neill property. Lets all get behind this wonderful opportunity.