That’s FOUR petitions in 12 years; one approved, TWO rejected, one of which was subsequently approved by the county; one pending.

If they have and the agreement/contract still include the text, “Permanent teachers of the MDUSD hired to teach at Eagle Peak. . .,” would it really apply to the CHVS charter? I’m not sure the comparison with Eagle Peak can be used. In creating EPMS a group of parents and teachers proposed a small, separate education program based on the Montessori method, not the conversion of an entire school.

Contrary to Jim (comment #7), the district has not “fought every charter proposal that has ever come up.” The district leadership supported the EPMS charter petition in 2000 and worked collaboratively with the EPMS Board and Executive Director. The initial and subsequent agreements reflect that collaboration. Since EPMS was created the district received only one other charter petition, which it and the county both rejected as incomplete, before this leadership received the Flex Academy petition a year or so ago. That’s three petitions in 12 years; one approved, one rejected; one pending.

The District’s Q&A may seem heavy-handed, but it does provide information essential to teachers considering a move to the CVHS charter, especially if the move means they would no longer be employees of the MDUSD. And if one of the purposes of the charter is to be independent of MDUSD, how can its staff continue to be employed by the district?

As a former district employee, I am following the CVHS charter issue because I worked with some wonderful CVHS parents and administrators and heard students and teachers report on their school’s achievements over the years. I can see the pros and cons of CVHS becoming a charter and can only hope that both sides of the issue can be addressed rationally, without rancor, and with the well-being of the students as everyone’s highest priority.

Yes, Powell is to be admired for giving up three years of six-figure earnings, but he is able to do so because 1) he’s eligible to retire and 2) he has a large enough retirement to meet his personal needs while working on a post-retirement contract.

Not every school district or county office of education has a superintendent with enough years of service to retire and then come back on a small contract. Most, in fact, want superintendents who are relatively young and energetic and not in their final years of service. Also, based on comments on this blog, many people are averse to retirees, no matter how skilled, who continue to work for their former employers under post-retirement contracts.

So while Powell’s story is admirable, it cannot be seen as a model for providing low-cost, qualified leadership in more than a handful of situations.

The District set a precedent when it signed a contract that would allow District teachers to take an “Opportunity” leave to work at Eagle Peak. The Agreement (Article 13–
2005/2010)

http://www.eaglepeakmontessori.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/epmscharter2005_20101.pdf

I surely do hope every single teacher signing on at CVCHS sees this and stands up for their rights! Would Eber-rence really rather pay court costs than allow the leaves?

The hatchet team, each and together, like to write virtually everything in a vague, broad and too often misleading manner, which they believe will allow them, when necessary, to more easily back-peddle later. History also shows that they frequently don’t read the fine print before they agree or sign legal documents.

As of 4/12/11 the Board approved the following agreement with MDEA members:

19.1.2. the following leaves of absence without pay are provided:

19.1.2.1. Improvement of Health
19.1.2.2. Educational Improvement
19.1.2.3. Opportunity (This one is good for
a semester or a year and is “on request”)
19.1.2.4. Maternity
19.1.2.5. Parental
19.1.2.6. Political
19.1.2.7. Religious Ovservation
19.1.2.8. General (that’s cool)
19.1.2.9. Pre-Retirement (I love this one–50/20-10/5)

——

Note that it does NOT say “may be provided” it says “are provided”. It does not say anything about disallowing leaves of absence because it will make too much work for the District, or just because they are mad at you, or want to punish you for disagreeing with their likes and dislikes.

Until MDEA members actually resign, (and why would they?) it seems to me that they are entitled to require the District to live up to the Contract.