Chinese Camp School District on the ropes

Chinese Camp’s school board Wednesday night approved moving forward with filing a state waiver stating the district can’t afford to operate another year independently.

When a district is about to be insolvent, it has an opportunity to dissolve and reorganize with another district, said Bill Schneiderman, district superintendent/principal. That option is called a Lapsation Waiver due to Fiscal Insolvency.

The district is looking at a $55,000 deficit for the 2009-10 school year and cannot afford to run past this school year.

After much discussion and a public hearing, the board voted 2-1 in favor of filing the waiver, with Trustee Denise Nicolini dissenting.

The waiver must be sent to the State Board of Education for its May agenda. Items for state board consideration must be received two months ahead of time.

Had the board not approved the waiver, the Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office would notify the California Department of Education of the district’s impending insolvency and the state would intervene almost immediately, said Joe Silva, county superintendent of schools.

“If the state comes in, they suspend the authority of the board and the superintendent,” said Peggy Abrille, assistant superintendent of business services for the county schools office.

Both Silva and Abrille urged the board to approve the waiver. They said it can be removed from the state board’s May agenda later on, if another option becomes viable.

After the state approves the waiver, it must be accepted by the Tuolumne County Board of Education. So, last night’s approval does not cement any fate, other than protecting the district from being forced into state receivership.

“It sounds like it’s either some input or no input,” said Trustee Daniel Meador.

Prior to Wednesday night’s meeting, Chinese Camp officials thought their only viable option was to reorganize the district with Jamestown School District. Jamestown Superintendent Diane Dotson and two board members attended the Chinese Camp meeting to dispel any rumors of them closing the school down.

“It is not our intent to close Chinese Camp School,” Dotson said. “I believe there can be a rich, quality program here similar to what you have.”

Dotson said the program may look different, and the administrative function would go away.

“What you have is not an economically viable option,” Dotson said.

Trustee Cathy Stone-Carlson said their district would welcome Chinese Camp students.

“Jamestown has one agenda, and that’s that kids get a quality education,” Stone-Carlson said.

In other board action Wednesday, Gold Rush Charter founders Jim Gallno and Kate Hansen told the board their school — operating under the umbrella of the Summerville Union High School District since 2006 — is interested in being sponsored by the Chinese Camp School District. Gold Rush pays about $150,000 in rent annually and is looking to cut costs. An agreement, if everything goes smoothly, could be completed in six weeks, Gallno said.

“I think if we both worked together we could both come out ahead,” Gallno said.

“So you have lots of students and no space and we have lots of space and not enough students,” Nicolini said.
 

The board will continue its discussions with Jamestown School and directed Schneiderman to investigate options with Gold Rush Charter School.

The district has until June 30 under the waiver before it and the board are dissolved and to come to an agreement with either Jamestown School or Gold Rush Charter School.

Jamestown School District will discuss Chinese Camp School at its next regular board meeting March 11.