Supporters seek county OK for Winton charter school

Supporters of a proposal to create a charter high school in Winton appealed to the Merced County Office of Education governing board on Monday, arguing that creation of such a campus would better serve students in the unincorporated community.

Speaking during a public hearing, parents and other boosters urged the board to consider the petition for a Winton Charter High School. Board members will take action on the petition in February. If the appeal is rejected, supporters would have until a May deadline to make an appeal at the state level.

Octavio Valencia addressed the board on behalf of the Winton Rotary Club, an organization that works to provide opportunities for growth for young people. That’s what the charter school will do, he said.

George Solis, a retired Livingston principal, echoed that mission: “Students should have options for education.”

In the last school year, about 640 students from the Winton area attended high school in Atwater, which had a total enrollment of 1,800.

The Winton Educational Foundation, the nonprofit leading the effort to establish the charter school, appealed to the MCOE for approval after the petition was rejected by the Merced Union High School District governing board in October.

Members of the district’s board expressed concern about their liability for the charter school, details about its proposed budget and qualifications of its would-be teachers. In appealing to the county board, the foundation responded to those arguments, saying the petition addresses those concerns.

Juan Martinez, president of the foundation, said the county has been more receptive than the high school district. He’s met with the committee that will be reviewing the petition, and the lines of communication have been open, he said.

“The beautiful thing about it is we’ve had the privilege of being heard,” Martinez said.

Charter supporters hope a high school in Winton will help the community in various aspects. Winton high school students primarily attend Atwater High School and having a local high school, supporters say, will improve community pride. Parents also believe having a high school in the community would encourage students to stay in school and avoid gang involvement, thus reducing crime. Supporters also believe a high school would help boost Winton’s economy. Many parents of Winton high-schoolers are worried about the safety of their children as students walk miles from Winton to Atwater High, making a dangerous crossing over busy Santa Fe Avenue.

Board members of the high school district said they would work to address transportation complaints and to ensure Winton students attending Atwater High School receive equal opportunities.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Supporters seek county OK for Winton charter school."