Group Protests Changing Public School Into Charter Arts School

A defiant group of parents and students protested a decision to turn an Oceanside middle school into a charter school.

Organizers of the rally outside the Oceanside Unified School District Tuesday want the school board to reconsider changing Jefferson Middle into the California School of Arts San Diego County.

Parents fear the new school would limit educations options for their children, who would have to audition to get into the charter school.

"It's part of the community,” said parent Esteban Valderaz. “It's something that we care about, and a charter school coming to this area would affect the community, so that's what we're trying to stop."

They said the decision was made without input from the community, which is a majority Latino population.

But Oceanside Unified Superintendent Duane Coleman, Ed.D., said the district discussed the change with three parent communities and the staffs of multiple schools.

“Now, could we do more input?” Coleman asked. “We're going to do more input, but it's not going to be input that's going to have an effect on the decision because the charter petition has already been approved by the board."

Instead of limiting students’ options, the superintendent said this offers them an opportunity for an arts education that is not available in Oceanside right now. Jefferson Middle now has 550 students, but the facility has room for up to 1,300.

While there will be an application, all students already enrolled at Jefferson can stay at the charter without applying.

Seventh grader Stephanie Gomez said she would not continue with the school if it transitions into a charter.

"I care because this is my school and because how I experienced everything with Jefferson, I want my little sister and everybody else to experience what I experienced,” said Gomez.

The superintended and the board, who were seated in the board room, invited the protesters to come in and discuss the situation. The group did not accept the invitation but said they would attend a future board meeting to make their case known.