There is a lot one could say about this decision, including the thought that it is a heap of bullshit…

County committee denies Hercules secession petition

Acting in the capacity as the County Committee on School Organization, the Contra Costa County Board of Education Sept. 14 disapproved a petition to split off schools in Hercules from the West Contra Costa Unified School District and join them with the John Swett Unified School District. With one board member absent, the County Committee voted 3-1 to deny the petition. The petitioners, Hercules residents Brenda Souza Hudson, Shirley Gotelli, and Susan Pricco, have the option of appealing the county decision.

The petitioners originally filed their proposal on October 31, 2004, but the County Committee rejected it when petition signatures were deemed incomplete. The petition was resubmitted on February 24, 2005 and subsequently accepted by the Committee.

Committee members reviewed a report on the petition from county consultant Michael Winters. That report analyzed whether or not the petition “substantially met” the nine conditions set forth in the state education code. Mr. Winters concluded that the petition did not satisfy the following three conditions:

> The proposed new districts are each formed on the basis of substantial community identity;
> The reorganization will not significantly disrupt the educational programs in the proposed and existing districts;
> The proposed reorganization will not cause a substantial negative effect on the fiscal status for the proposed district or the affected existing districts.

Committee members voted on whether or not the petition “substantially met” the nine conditions and voted on each one separately. They decided that the petition met seven conditions, but voted 3-1 that the proposal could in effect disrupt educational programs and harm the finances of the existing districts and/or the newly formed district. The committee then again voted 3-1 to disapprove the petition in its entirety.

“The petition was based more on emotion than logic and the facts that were available,” said Daniel Gomes, committee member and county trustee. “It was highly coated with the idea that things were wrong and that the best way to correct them was to take this drastic measure of going on your own. The chances of succeeding were not good. That’s what I was mainly concerned about.”

The district’s position contained three main points. First, the reorganization would limit educational choices and programs for students, including:

> Forcing the district to close or reduce student opportunities in academies and Advanced Placement classes;
> Restricting program opportunities for transfer students attending Hercules schools, including those students utilizing the No Child Left Behind transfer rights;
> Overwhelming the John Swett district with new programs required by an influx of special education students created by the proposed merger.

Secondly, the district argued that the proposed transfer of its Hercules schools would cause drastic and irreparable financial damage to both school districts, with the John Swett district being especially devastated. ‘The John Swett school district will incur a substantial amount of WCCUSD’s loan and bond indebtedness which could render [it] insolvent,” said interim Superintendent Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc during her address to the committee.

Dr. LeBlanc also noted that the proposed secession, by splintering off one of the district’s more affluent communities, would create profound socioeconomic impacts on the district, deprive it of several of its highest performing schools, and decrease the district’s rich diversity.

Responding to the petitioners’ charge that the district had “abandoned” its schools in Hercules, WCCUSD board president Glen Price stated that the district, among other investments, has spent more than $75 million over the past 10 years to modernize and construct schools in Hercules.

John Swett board president Norma Clerici reminded the committee that the John Swett board had voted 3-2 to not support the petition, while Mr. Price noted that the WCCUSD board had voted 5-0 to oppose it.

The district argued that in the end that there was no compelling reason for the reorganization, and that the petition did not include any specifics as to how secession would improve the educational program for West Contra Costa and John Swett students and families.

“The schools in Hercules are already high-performing schools,” said county board member Mr. Gomes. “This proposed reorganization would only create unnecessary risk for the students and residents of Hercules, as well as students across the West Contra Costa and John Swett districts,” Mr. Gomes said. “I never felt the petition was well-reasoned and truly for the better interests of everyone concerned—not just the Hercules students, but the students in West Contra Costa and John Swett as well.”

WCCUSD union leaders expressed concerns that the petition would destabilize staffing at schools throughout both districts, owing to WCCUSD’s higher teacher salaries and greater employee benefits. County commission members and several speakers also feared the potential financial impact on John Swett schools due to increased costs in special education programs.

“I’m pleased with the county’s decision, and I hope that we can now come together and move forward by putting our collective energy and resources into improving the educational lives of all students in the West Contra Costa and John Swett districts,” said Mr. Price.

The nine education code conditions that reorganization petitions must “substantially meet’ are:

1. The new district will be adequate in terms of number of pupils enrolled.
2. The districts are each organized on the basis of substantial community identity.
3. The proposal will result in an equitable division of property and facilities of the original district or districts.
4. The reorganization of the district will not promote racial or ethnic discrimination or segregation.
5. The proposed reorganization will not result in any substantial increase in costs to the state.
6. The proposed reorganization will not significantly disrupt the educational programs in the proposed district and districts affected by the proposed reorganization and will continue to promote sound educational performance in those districts.
7. The proposed reorganization will not result in significant increase in school housing costs.
8. The proposed reorganization is not primarily designed to result in a significant increase in property values causing financial advantage to property owners because territory was transferred from one school district to an adjoining district.
9. The proposed reorganization will not cause a substantial negative effect on the fiscal management or fiscal status of the proposed district or any existing district affected by the proposed reorganization.

This report originally ran in the El Cerrito Wire.