Birmingham Charter Application Approved

After watching the school board meeting on cable, I can safely say
the board followed the law, and in the process will have offended some
families and staffers.

I listened with interest as Marguerite LaMotte asking if Prop 39 works in reverse.  Prop 39 forces districts with space to give eligible charters space within the district.  Yet, now that the 2990 seat Birmingham Community Charter moves forward, along with the 500 seat Daniel Pearl Journalism Magnet, what happens to the families that don't want to start on August 19th?  Or the teachers who have less than a month to decide if they want to be part of the charter, or if they want to try to get  jobs on other campuses (unlikely in this financial climate), or face being turned into substitute teachers?

Certainly some families will be eager to join the Birmingham Community Charter and they'll be able to apply and hopefully be accepted.  But for those who have just lost their school, it's too late to apply to the Pearl Magnet--or any other magnet for that matter, it's too late to apply through Open Enrollment, to apply to another SAS, or any other charter.  For these kids, what are their options?  Who helps them relocate?  Ms. Galatzan's office?  District 1's office?  Individual nearby schools with openings?  Parent groups?

While the law dictates the approval of the charter, perhaps the district should be looking at options that make provisions for the students who are now displaced.  And given the likelihood this will repeat with increasing frequency at additional schools, I hope the school board, the district offices, and other concerned groups work for the benefit of ALL the students, and not just those on the winning side.