Just Say "NO" to Ross Valley Charter - We are updating this page with the actions RVC have taken that broke the promises made by RVC that we posted on this page from last year.
1. We need to HEAL Fairfax and end the division. It’s not worth the cost to all of our children. This is still true but since the charter submitted a Prop 39 request, RVC is continuing the division of our entire community.
2. Charter approval is independent of location. This charter could end up at any school in RVSD. This is not a Manor problem anymore.
3. Despite numerous assurances and claims that MAP/RVC leaders have no intent to locate at Manor, the Charter Petitioners decided not to include any of this language in the actual Charter document itself. If the charter is approved, RVC can at any time, now or in the future, make a facility request to the District. Under Prop 39, the District would then be required to provide the Charter space in the district which would probably be at Manor, where it has been housed as "MAP" for nearly 20 years. This is the most likely scenario, and will result in Fairfax children not having their own public school (while San Anselmo has 3). Click here for more information on the location issue. The Prop 39 request for space at Manor clearly demonstrates the assurances to not locate at Manor were attempts to gain community support for the charter without any real intention of following through on their word. Asking for Red Hill for the 4th year in a row, after being unable to lease it twice, then targeting Manor with statements that they don't wish to displace any child in the district is ridiculous. If they don't want to displace any child, then stop trying to open RVC. There is no scenario where RVC opens in any location that the loss of ADA revenue is good for our district.
4. The district stated that it will NOT rent Red Hill to RVC. Red Hill has not housed students for many years and it is not “reasonably equivalent," or in compliance with Ed Code legal requirements. After exploring the issue several times, RVSD Trustees (current and past) have voted that option down (cost and traffic, among others). Can you imagine the traffic caused by 200+ cars turning left on Sir Francis Drake at 8:20 in the morning??! That alone will have HUGE negative impacts on San Anselmo, the entire Ross Valley, and east bound commuters. Click here to read the 2009 traffic study which was clear that opening Red Hill would have negative impacts. If RVC was serious about renting Red Hill, one of its two lease proposals to RVSD should have contained a transportation plan to demonstrate to RVSD they would not be liable for resolving the traffic situation. Yet they are asking for Red Hill to deflect from the fact that their intent is to locate at Manor and/or Brookside.
5. RVC can turn down Manor and is free to rent another space. However, the rental market in the district is incredibly competitive and expensive, making it unlikely for them to find a space, and sending them back to Manor. Prop 39 requests Manor if it they are not placed at Red Hill. More propaganda followed by actions that contradict the statements from last year.
6. RVC wrote a letter to RVSD stating that it would sign a document to not locate at Manor but the letter did not absolve the District of its Prop 39 requirements. The letter also confusingly referenced an irrelevant section of Prop 39 as a means of trying to prove that Prop 39 was not in effect. Read more here. Prop 39 request targets Manor. Actions speak louder than words.
7. Charters cost districts thousands if not hundreds of thousands a year. We can’t afford it. Look at what has happened in Los Altos when their County Ed. Dept. opened the door 15 years ago to Bullis Charter.
9. MAP has a long history of discrimination, which will likely continue if given the charter, as they will use taxpayer dollars with no oversight from our democratically elected leaders (RVSD Trustees), but will be governed by their own self-appointed group.