CHARTER PLANS IRK OFFICIALS CURRICULUM FOR VISTA REAL VIOLATES STATE CODE, THEY SAY.

Byline: Angie Valencia-Martinez Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - The county Board of Education has voted to allow Vista Real Charter High School to open four new campuses for dropouts and at-risk students, angering local school officials who say other schools already offer the same programs.

The board voted 4-1 to allow the schools in Simi Valley, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Fillmore.

The schools would open over a four-year period, starting with Oxnard in the fall. The Simi Valley location would open last.

``They shouldn't compete with the public schools,'' said Simi Valley board member Rob Collins. ``The laws are pretty clear as I understand them. They shouldn't come into a community that already is offering programs that the charter wants to offer.''

Regular public school districts would lose average daily attendance money from the state if their students leave for the private charters.

Charter schools are alternatives to traditional public schools. They use public money but are privately run. They have the same educational requirements as traditional public schools, but have more freedom to design course work and hire staff.

According to the state education code, an independent study charter can open only if one is not supplied by the local districts.

Two schools in the district, Monte Vista School and the Simi Valley Adult School, for example, cater to that student population, Collins said.

But Marty Bates, president of the county Board of Education, said it was debatable whether Simi schools offered the same programs. He said if the Simi Valley district could convince the county over the next four years that the new school would replicate the programs, then they would not open it.

``If that's the case this organization will not open in Simi Valley,'' he said. ``That could be a long debate. All school boards and all teachers believe they serve everyone, but they serve them on their own terms.

``This school offers flexible hours so students can get their diploma from high school. I don't think most local districts offer that kind of program.''

Simi Valley trustee Debbie Sandland said the decision to grant or deny the charter should have been made at the local level.

Sandland said she doesn't endorse the charter school because it will have a negative impact on Simi Valley's already declining enrollment.

``It would take money that should go to public education,'' she said. ``I will pursue this at every level we can to prohibit them from setting up a shop in the community.''

Officials with Vista Real Charter High School did not return phone calls.

The centers would have a combined enrollment of about 800 students.

Bates said the opposition from local school districts and teacher associations is partly due to the fact that school districts are not used to competition.

``It's too bad,'' said Bates. ``The problem is public education in California has never had to face competition. Charter schools have been allowed by law in the state of California, and it does create competition.''

Desert Sands Charter School in the Antelope Valley submitted the application to the Ventura County Superintendent's Office to operate the charters more than a year ago.

Vista Real Charter High School is an extension of that school.

Luke Bannon, president of the Simi Educators Association, and others have suggested challenging the county Board of Education's decision in court.

``This particular charter seems to have so many questionable practices,'' he said. ``It is causing us grave concern. I'm sure there's better charters out there.''

Bannon is outraged that no effort was made by the county board or applicant to have a discussion with the affected districts beforehand.

Local leaders are also worried about the quality of the schools, which have not received accreditation.

Desert Sands received a charter from the Antelope Valley Union High School District in 2001 and has enrollment of about 1,200 students.

By law, Bates said, the school can operate other centers in Ventura County because its Los Angeles County charter allows it to go into adjacent counties without further approval.

Vista Real sought county approval because ``they want to be a good community member,'' Bates added. The advantage is that the county Board of Education will have greater oversight, he said.

Angie Valencia-Martinez, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com