The Golden Lakes Charter School effort suffered a setback July 27 when their charter petition was denied by the Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District board of trustees.

Golden Lakes Charter School board president Dwight Mueller said his group had already planned for the potential of a “no” vote, and will immediately move forward with an appeal to the Tuolumne County Board of Education. (See Letters to the Editor, Page 9)

The move will push back the charter school’s opening until fall of 2011.

However, Mueller said that could be a good thing. “The delay will mean our financing will be in place to open the school under ideal conditions,” he said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, The Big Oak Flat-Groveland school district brought in several school services experts, including an attorney and a certified public accountant, to comment on the charter petition. They raised a number of objections, claiming the charter school’s projected enrollment and revenue were too high and projected expenses were too low, among other things.

They also predicted the Big Oak Flat-Groveland district would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in property tax income under the plan, and said if the district approves the petition, they might have to hire additional staff to help oversee the charter program.

The experts recommended that the board disapprove the petition.

Golden Lakes’ attorney, charter school specialist Jerry Simmons, said the charter group had already revised its documents to comply with the objections that were mentioned.

However, the board voted 3-0 against approving the charter.

Ian Morcott, Lori West, and Paul Spring were the only board members in attendance; Gloria Marler and Mike Malloy were absent.

Lori West said she was uncomfortable with the charter’s plan to have only four teachers in a school of 80 students in grades kindergarten through twelfth.

“I really want to support this charter school, but I have some serious concerns. I feel it needs to ‘cook’ a little bit longer so kids can get a quality education.”

A Don Pedro mom wondered aloud why the district is just now concerning itself with the quality of education for Don Pedro High students. The mom said her son was so far behind after attending there that he had to repeat several classes. Whatever the charter school did would have to be an improvement, she said, adding, “I don’t think it could be any worse!”

Another mom, Harmony Weiland, told the board how exhausting and stressful the 2-hour bus ride to Groveland is for Don Pedro area K-8 students and their parents, especially in winter on icy roads. She said she’d prefer even a one-room schoolhouse if it meant her children wouldn’t have to ride the bus.

Lillian Cravens of Groveland told the board, “I am totally in support of this charter petition. I don’t feel the students at Don Pedro have been given a fair shake.” Cravens said she had polled many people in her community, and they all told her they support it as well.

Greg Brown, a teacher involved with the charter effort, urged the board to give the charter a chance. “It is a movement in the right direction,” he said.

School board member Paul Spring said he felt the proposal had “too many loose ends.”

“They’re rushing to get it done,” he added.

Board president Ian Morcott told the audience, “We have a fiduciary responsibility (to ensure that) in our opinion, the budget looks right, and the education plan is going to succeed. … We’re just not quite there yet.”

Don Pedro residents expressed dismay at the decision, but still voiced optimism that the petition will be approved at the county or state level.

“We’ll do it without them (Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified),” said one parent.

During the meeting, several in the audience were surprised to hear Interim Superintendent Mike King contradict someone who made the statement that Don Pedro High School is scheduled for closure this year.

“That is not a closed school site,” King said. He added that the board has intentions to offer “some educational programs” at Don Pedro High, though he did not specify what those programs would be.

King had indicated at previous board meetings that he planned to recommend that Don Pedro High be closed this coming school year as a cost-cutting measure. Those statements were part of what motivated Don Pedro residents to form a charter school committee.