Walnut Creek will probably lose Del Oro, its longtime alternative high school

Del Oro, the 43-year-old alternative public high school that has served Walnut Creek and Lamorinda students "whose needs are not being met by comprehensive high schools" will possibly be closed, due to really scary budget news likely to come down from Sacramento in the coming weeks.

The Acalanes Union High School District staff has recommended that its board, at its meeting January 13, consider closing Del Oro High School, which currently has around 60 students.

I've been told by school administrators that it costs a lot of money to run a smaller, alternative high school. And even the Acalanes district, with its strong history of community support in the form of parcel taxes and generous parent fundraising, is facing some very tough choices. The district also covers Walnut Creek's downtown campus, Las Lomas High School, as well as Acalanes in Lafayette, Campolindo in Moraga and Miramonte in Orinda.

At that same meeting, the board will also discuss a likely shortfall of more than $5 million in the district's budget over the next two years and the possible layoffs of 16 teachers. 

 

The district must include a plan for achieving budget cuts," Superintendent John Stockton said in an e-mail sent out to parents before the holiday break. "In addition to the $2.6 million cut for 2010-2011, an additional $2.6 million in budget reductions will be necessary in 2011-2012. The bulk of these budget reductions require personnel releases."

With these budget cuts looming, the district will hold a series of parent meetings on January 20 and 21, to explain the challenges coming.

As for Del Oro? From what I've heard from administrators, it sounds like those students will end up returning to the regular high schools. And that could mean students, who have a difficult time fitting into a regular high school--especially high-achieving schools like those in the Acalanes district--and who are falling off track to graduate, might wind up struggling a lot more.

Just last February, Del Oro was named by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell as one of California's 14 Model Continuation High Schools "for their programs designed to help struggling students stay in school."

According to the state Deparment of Education, California created the concept of continuation high schools more than 90 years ago. "These schools focus on school-to-career education, individualized instructional strategies, intensive guidance and counseling, and flexible school schedules. Continuation high schools serve students aged 16 years or older who lack sufficient school credits and are at risk of not graduating. More than 71,000 students in the state attended 523 continuation high schools in 2007-08, the latest data available.

Del Oro says its mission has been "to provide an opportunity for all students to develop intellectual, social, physical and psychological skills necessary for life-long learning and success in a technological, global society."

Its course of study has offered "an individualized approach to the basic programs in English, math, science, social science, physical education, along with supplemental coursework in personal development, life skills, and work experience skills."

"Whether your goal is to return to the comprehensive program or receive a diploma from Del Oro, we are here to assist you in accomplishing your goal," the school says on its website.

Big push, and endorsements, for voters to say “yes” to G and H school parcel tax measures

Two school parcel tax measures on the November 3 ballot, Measure G in the Acalanes Union High School District, and Measure H, in the Walnut Creek School District, received a strong endorsement from the Contra Costa Times. And school leaders in both districts, of course, support the measures, as does the Walnut Creek City Council and Chamber of Commerce.

The measures require approval from two thirds of voters to pass. What is somewhat unusual about these measures is that they would permanently extend the taxes, rather than impose sunset provisions, as in the past. Currently, Walnut Creek’s $82-per-parcel tax and Acalanes’ $189-per-parcel tax are due to expire in 2011.

“These are challenging times for public school officials as they watch their funding shrink drastically because of the fiscal crisis in Sacramento,” says the editorial in the Contra Costa Times. “In an ideal world, the state would equitably fund our schools, ensuring that all students have similar access to quality education. Unfortunately, we don't live in such a world. School districts are partially funded by the state and then left to make up shortfalls on their own.

The parcel tax for the Acalanes district--which includes Walnut Creek’s downtown Las Lomas High School-- brings in about $6.7 million a year. The district’s budget has dropped about $5 million in the past year to $49 million. The Walnut Creek tax brings in about $1.2 million a year, which would help offset the district’s loss in the past year of about $3 million.

Proponents of G&H say that investing in Walnut Creek schools is necessary to provide local children a quality public education. “The Walnut Creek School District and Acalanes Union High School District are consistently among the top-ranked school districts in California.”

Proponents also say that good public schools contribute to our town’s overall economic vitality. That is, all property owners benefit from quality schools. “Currently, home values in our community are strong and maintaining value in large part because homebuyers are motivated to live within these two districts.”

For more information about the measures, visit the Yes on G&H website.