The Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School district held the first of two public hearings June 2 on a charter petition by Golden Lakes Charter School.

Wednesday’s meeting was held in Lake Don Pedro. A second public hearing will be held later this month in Groveland.

“Our vision is to offer students a standard of education that will gain them entrance into any college, university, or trade school in California,” the document states.

The petition calls for a K-12 school to be located at the site that currently houses Don Pedro High School. The Big Oak Flat-Groveland School District has been expected to close that campus next fall due to budget cuts.

Golden Lakes Charter proposes entering into a long-term facilities use agreement for the Don Pedro campus.

The charter school officials are planning to add four additional portable classrooms to house the program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The charter petition outlines the educational goals for the district. It also gives details regarding proposed curriculum, instructional methods, programs for students working above or below grade level, and employee qualifications.

The charter petition also asks the Big Oak Flat-Groveland district to transfer to the Golden Lakes Charter School “the funds contained in accounts maintained for the benefit of the Don Pedro High School or the Don Pedro community.”

Those funds include:

1. More than $100,000 from the sale of BOFGUSD property in Don Pedro that were allocated for the future purchase of school property in the Don Pedro Area for an elementary school.

2. Approximately $16,000 in Don Pedro High School student body funds.

3. Approximately $11,000 in a money market account for Don Pedro High School Scholarships.
The charter document can be viewed at www.foothillexpress.com.

View the petitition here.