Going public

Last night, the Imperial County of Education Board, held a public hearing and meeting to decide the petition from Imagine School of their denial for charter from the El Centro elementary school district.

James Taylor is not only a teacher in Calexico, but the President of the Imperial County Uniserv, which is a coalition of teachers in the valley. He’s also one of the many who opposes Imagine school’s petition to charter which was denied by the El Centro elementary school district. “On one side we have members of the community and teachers who are speaking out in favor of upholding a decision that was made by an elected board. And on the other side we have basically a company trying to stay in business.”

The test results from students who attend Imagine school compared to other schools in the valley are severely below. James feels they offer nothing different from public schools.
“Public schools that we have here in the valley are outstanding. I work with so many of the teachers that teach in these schools. They’re fantastic people and the integrity of the education that students receive at true public schools here in the valley is top notch. “

James hopes the Imperial County of Education board respect the decision made by El Centro Elementary School District who speaks for the community and give the students of Imagine school the education they deserve. “There are successful charter schools in the Valley, Imagine is not one of them. And I don’t think they’re doing the best for our kids. So I don’t think they have a place in our community anymore. “

James also mentions that if we allow charters like Imagine School to continue to exist in the Imperial Valley, it makes the county a target for charters that he feels are ran like business and not like a school.

The Imperial County of Education board has sixty days to make their decision on whether they’ll overturn the district’s decision to deny charter for Imagine school.