Charter high school plan draws critics in Dublin
A plan by Dublin parents to start a college preparatory charter high school is drawing organized opposition from those who say the city should have only one comprehensive public high school.Among the concerns — which are coming before plans for the Tassajara Preparatory High School are even finalized — are that the charter school could take away resources and hurt student programs at Dublin High.
The Dublin Learning Corporation, a group of local parents who hope to open the charter school, said it expected such opposition. Nonetheless, the group plans to submit its petition to the Dublin school district for approval next month as planned. The group hopes to open the school in fall 2012.
Charter schools are public schools that are exempt from many of the state educational codes governing school districts and receive state funding based on student enrollment. Charter schools do not charge tuition and can be approved to operate by a number of governmental education agencies, including local school districts.
The charter corporation announced its plans in September, then held three town hall meetings to discuss its effort and gather public input. Organizers, who say they want to collaborate with instead of compete with the district, said there should be an alternative to the one comprehensive high school on the west side of the growing city. They want to establish their high school in east Dublin.
Still, the plan has drawn critics.
