Jun 27, 2008

School board questions charter idea

Location a key concern for proposed science academy in Foster City

By Will Oremus / Daily News Staff Writer

Does a charter high school targeting poor and minority students belong in affluent Foster City?

That was the question of the night Thursday as the Los Angeles-based Magnolia Foundation made its pitch for a new science academy to the San Mateo Union High School District.

If the district approves it in August, the Magnolia Science Academy-Foster City will open in 2009 and expand over time to 800 students in grades 6 through 12. Its backers hope to build a brand-new campus on four acres in downtown Foster City, which has never had a high school to call its own.

First, however, they must convince the five-member school board that the new school would be a good fit in the district. The three board members present at Thursday night's meeting didn't tip their hands, but their questions revealed some skepticism about the proposal.

Board Member Dave Pine noticed the charter group's petition to the district put "a lot of emphasis on serving disadvantaged students." But he said the proposed curriculum - with its emphasis on science and technology programs such as a Math and Science Olympiad - "might be very appealing to already high-achieving students."

Andy Gokce, who led the Magnolia Foundation's presentation, said the group would use bilingual marketing materials to draw a diverse student population. While the campus would be in Foster City, it would draw from all around the district, which also encompasses San Mateo, Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae and San Bruno.

That response didn't satisfy Board President Linda Lees Dwyer.

"I'm curious why you want to be in Foster City when the students you're seeking are not in Foster City," she said.

Gokce responded that the group's research shows Foster City's demographics are not so different from those of Magnolia's other campuses, in Southern California. Besides, he said, there is support among Foster City residents for a school there.

To reinforce that point, two people from Foster City stood up at Thursday's meeting to support the charter school proposal.

Longtime resident Robert Nelson said the city needs a high school to serve as a gathering place for the community.

Linda Haskin said a small charter school would be especially helpful for children with attention deficit disorder and others who need special attention. She added that the local student population is growing and new residential development is in the pipeline.

The charter proposal will come back to the school board for a vote in August.

Meanwhile, the Magnolia Foundation will submit a business plan to Foster City. It must convince the city council to leave open the undeveloped four-acre site near Foster City Boulevard, which might otherwise become part of a larger 15-acre residential and commercial project.



E-mail Will Oremus at woremus@dailynewsgroup.com.