To Whom it May Concern,
Catalyst Charter School is a proposed k-5 school in Bellflower with plans to expand through twelfth grade. Recently a letter regarding the charter school was brought to the attention of the charter school advisory team. This document contains many false statements. To provide a clear understanding of the proposed school, we have provided a factual information sheet to clarify the misperceptions. We welcome questions and dialogue concerning the proposed school. As a parent, and resident of Bellflower in the Ramona Elementary neighborhood, I am excited about the possibilities that Catalyst Charter School brings to our community. To learn more about the school, please read the information below, or visit www.catalystcharterschool.org.
Rachel VerWys, MSW
Founding Board President Catalyst Charter School
catalystcharterschool@gmail.com
CATALYST CHARTER SCHOOL’S UNIQUENESS
1. Small class size: Proposed student to teacher ratios do not exceed 22 to 1.
2. Community Led: This charter school is a dream and proposal of local Bellflower Unified families.
3. Language development: Beginning in first grade scholars will integrate Spanish into their academic life.
4. Service Learning: Students will participate in service opportunities in the local community so they are empowered to serve others.
5. Virtue Centered: These values include caring, equality and social justice, integrity, honesty, responsibility, and self-regulation.
6. Parental Volunteer Involvement: All parents/guardians will be required to volunteer.
7. Mentoring: Every scholar will have the opportunity to have a mentor and peer mentoring will take place between students.
8. Family Center: Resource center for families including an on-site licensed counselor through partnership with a local organization.
9. After-school Enrichment: Students will have a safe place to use their time constructively.
10. Innovative Education: Charter schools have flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods, which allows for creativity and academic excellence.
These following misperceptions were in a written document distributed to school leaders and community members. Please take the time to read the truth.
MYTH: “this proposal will cost us”
TRUTH: While per pupil monies will shift into the Catalyst Charter School budget, BUSD will receive administrative fees for each student, and Catalyst will bring additional funds into the district. Catalyst will increase the district’s eligibility to receive Race to the Top funds, therefore potentially bringing new revenue into the district. Catalyst is a unique educational choice and will serve as an option for retaining students who may have otherwise opted to leave the district. Additionally, out of district, private schooled, and homeschooled students who choose to attend Catalyst will bring additional monies into the district.
MYTH: “we [BUSD] will have to provide all the support for them”
TRUTH: Catalyst’s budget is separate from the district and will not require payment from the district for support services (nutrition, transportation, etc.)
MYTH: Catalyst charter school will cause more teachers to lose their jobs
TRUTH: Catalyst will be providing 11 new jobs for teachers, potentially giving jobs back to the teachers who lost their jobs in budget cuts.
MYTH: “The superintendent of this school will make $90,000… and her husband $70,000”
TRUTH: No employees of the proposed school have been hired. Catalyst board members/family members will not be salaried employees of the charter school. Furthermore, no one has been paid for assisting in the preparation of the application. The principal and staff will be paid similarly to district employees.
MYTH: “I don’t believe they (Charter School organizers) live in Bellflower”
TRUTH: Catalyst Charter School is a community-based initiative visioned and organized by local residents, parents, business owners, service providers and teachers. Bellflower families created Catalyst School’s vision in order to contribute to academic excellence in our district. BUSD students are at the heart of this school’s mission and it is with their academic and life achievement in mind that Catalyst Charter School was proposed. Close to 400 people have signed a petition in support of Catalyst Charter School. All organizers do live in Bellflower, although they have been assisted by non-residents who are volunteering to support the local effort.
MYTH: “Catalyst Charter School is a Franchise type deal…”
TRUTH: Catalyst Charter School is not a franchise; it is a new start up charter school, proposed by Bellflower District community members, to be located in Bellflower. It is a non-profit organization, therefore not a business that generates profit. The founding board will likely hire an experienced agency to assist with day-to-day operations. Any selection of an agency will be handled through due process and competitive bidding.
MYTH: “ 5 year performance goals BELOW the state and federal requirements”
TRUTH: Catalyst will meet or exceed at the end of the 5-year charter the yearly Academic Performance Index (API) including NCLB AYP as established by the California Department of Education. Catalyst has numerous goals for improving learning and measuring improvement that are not below state or federal requirements.
MYTH: “will this (special needs) be another portion of the community they leave out”
TRUTH: Catalyst’s Petition specifically addresses a special education plan over numerous pages. Catalyst will follow the legal specifics of Special Education/IDEA legislation in its delivery of services: an equal opportunity for all scholars that may not be denied on the basis of disability. The school budget proposes to hire a special education teacher/coordinator and will hire special education teachers as needed.
MYTH: “The site of this school is at a church which lends me to believe parochialism is at play”
TRUTH: Catalyst is a public school, and thus non-sectarian. Charter schools can be located in a variety of facility types, including churches. By utilizing an already existing space of classrooms, overall costs are kept low. There will be no religious instruction at Catalyst, the same as any other district school.
MYTH: “this type of school in our district is just not right. We don’t need this.”
TRUTH: A charter school allows the district to have a school with more flexibility, and offers the chance at different and innovative teaching that will benefit all of the neighboring schools. We want BUSD to embrace Catalyst as an educational partner, so that all success will be mutually shared. We recognize the hard work of the board, teachers, and support staff in Bellflower, and hope to support their work by offering a way to bring improved learning and expanded choices.
