This Wednesday, January 16, 2008, The Rocklin School Board will decide if they will grant a charter to the Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (WSCA), a 7 - 12 Public Charter School of Choice for Rocklin and Placer County.  This meeting will start at 7:00 pm at the Rocklin School Board District Office (2615 Sierra Meadows Drive, Rocklin).

The Rocklin School District Board of Trustees must approve this charter.  There is a tremendous amount of support not only from Rocklin families but also from families in the surrounding cities.  This was evident by huge turnout at the public hearing last month and the hundreds of families on the waiting list to get their children into Rocklin Academy.  This large waiting list exists because the Rocklin School Board has prohibited the Rocklin families from attending Rocklin Academy.  They have mandated that 20% of Rocklin Academy’s enrollment will be from outside Rocklin.  This is unfair because Rocklin families paid the taxes to build the school that houses Rocklin Academy.  

Last December the Rocklin School Board held a public hearing on the WSCA charter.  Listening to the comments from the board members, I do not believe they will support this charter.   Last June, Superintendent Kevin Brown said that he would not support the charter.  At the public hearing I asked him about that comment.  He said he would not support the charter because he was negotiating agreements with Rocklin Academy.  Can you say BLACKMAIL??    

Steve Paul, the “Grand Poobah,” of the school board could only say that Rocklin Schools are great.  The parents that want the school board to grant this charter are not saying that Rocklin Schools are bad.  They just want more options on where to send their children.  If history repeats itself the Grand Poobah probably never read his board package.  And if he did, he probably would not of understood the content.

Slick attorney, Todd Lowell does not get it.  He kept asking what would be the difference between Rocklin High Schools and WSCA?  How about a smaller school, emphasis on a collegiate curriculum and core knowledge?  And these are just a few of the differences. 

In 2006, the “Slick Attorney” and the “Grand Poobah” asked the Placer County Republican Party for their endorsement.  To get that endorsement, they had to answer a few questions.  One question asked if they supported charter schools.  Both said yes and below is part of their written responses to the Republican Party.

The “Grand Poobah” responded with the following quote

“Our children will and have always had a choice of schools to attend.” 

The truth is not all Rocklin families have a choice of schools to attend.  Steve Paul is one of the school board members to blame for parents not having choice and for Rocklin families paying taxes for a school they built but are not allowed to attend.

Todd “slick attorney” Lowell provided the following quote to the Placer County Republican Central Committee; 

“I voted to extend the Rocklin Academy’s charter as they requested and have supported their space needs.” 

No wonder we have tagged Mr. Lowell as the “slick attorney.”  Yes, he voted to extend the Rocklin Academy charter but forced the Rocklin Academy into a possibly illegal agreement.  We are still looking for an attorney that is willing to help Rocklin parents take the RUSD to court over the agreement that Rocklin Academy was forced to sign.  As mentioned before, this agreement allows families outside of Rocklin to attend Rocklin Academy, even though Rocklin parents have and are continuing to pay the taxes on this school.  Maybe the “slick attorney” should tell the hundreds of Rocklin families why they cannot attend Rocklin Academy.

Todd Lowell and Steve Paul lied to get the endorsement of the Republican Party and now they will probably show their anti-charter views by not supporting the WSCA. 

PLACER COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP.

During the public hearing, Camille “I am proud to be a liberal” Maben continued to press Dr. David Patterson, the Executive Director of Rocklin Academy, on how he was going to address the low achieving kids.  In my opinion, Dr. Patterson was trying to be too politically correct.  What he should have said to Ms Maben was the WSCA would work with any student that wants to attend the school.  Not all students will want to attend the school or should attend the school.  We are not going to lower the curriculum standards so everyone has a chance to graduate from WSCA.  Ms. Maben and the education establishment want to dumb down education standards so everyone looks good.  Ms. Maben works for the California Department of Education.  No wonder California schools are near the bottom when compared with other states in the country.  Ms Maben, wants to continue to set low standards so the people in Sacramento look good.

Greg “I am only a Republican when I need an endorsement” Daley sounded less informed than the Grand Poobah, a task that I thought was impossible achieve.  Mr. Daley kept asking Dr Patterson about English language learners at Rocklin Academy.  I am not sure how this was relevant in discussing the WSCA charter.  Mr. Daley seemed to be opposed to the WSCA charter. 

Wendy “deer in the headlights” Lang was very professional during the public hearing.  She seems to have done a little homework.  Because of this we are removing the “deer in the headlights” name.  She will now be called Wendy “ I will team with anyone to get elected” Lang.  It is a shame that Ms. Lang is so heavily influenced by the “Slick Attorney” and the “Grand Poobah.”

Congressman John Doolittle, Assemblyman Ted “in my pocket” Gaines, and Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown have come out publicly to support the WSCA.

What about the Rocklin City Council?  Remember Scott ‘empty suit” Yuill is on the advisory committee for the WSCA.  At this time, he will not come out publicly to support the charter.  Mr. Empty Suit is a slick politician.  He is not to be trusted.  The rest of the City Council has been silent on the issue.  They have the chance to support a great school in their city.  I must assume they are too busy working on lying to the Rocklin voters on Measure H.  Remember a NO VOTE ON MEASURE H reduces traffic and controls growth in Rocklin.  I will have more on this on my next post.  

Where is the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce’s support for the WSCA?  Lets not forget the Chamber President is now Todd “slick attorney” Lowell.  That is one reason there is no support.  The CEO of the Chamber is Robin Trimble.  You would think that Ms. Trimble would support the WSCA because it would help bring more business to Rocklin.  Remember the high tech company I spoke about before, with 25 PhDs would consider moving to Rocklin if the WSCA is housed in Rocklin.  Scott “empty suit” Yuill knows this.  It is obvious that Ms Trimble is just a puppet of the good old boys network in Rocklin.

On January 16 the people of Rocklin will know if there is real school choice when it comes to a grade 7 -12 WSCA charter school.  You will also know where your other local elected officials stand.  From what I understand, legally, the Rocklin School Board must approve this charter.  Will they vote no on the charter and role the dice to see if there is an appeal or legal action taken against the district?  Please attend this important meeting on January 16, at 7:00 at the Rocklin School District Office.