Winton groups work to rally support for charter high school

Winton community groups are urging residents to attend the upcoming Merced Union High School District governing boarding meeting in an effort to bolster support for a proposed charter high school in Merced County’s largest unincorporated community.

The petition, first introduced to the union board earlier this year, was prepared by the Winton Educational Foundation, the nonprofit group spearheading the charter school effort.

District officials will ask the school board to reject the charter school proposal, according to a resolution attached to the board’s agenda for its meeting Wednesday. The resolution to deny the charter petition was recommended by Ed Felt, district interim superintendent.

The resolution to deny the charter school states the petition does not provide a reasonable and comprehensive plan for special needs students, a board of directors, employee qualifications, admissions, a facility location and more. The agenda item also addresses the potential loss of average daily attendance funding for MUHSD if a charter school is established.

But charter school supporters said they have a strong plan and are willing to work out any technical problems their petition may have. Juan Martinez, the Winton foundation’s president, on Saturday said his group had not had enough time to fully analyze the recently published recommendation to reject the petition.

“We do address special education needs and the facility questions in our petition,” Martinez said in a telephone interview. “But, as I said, we will look at the concerns and, if the board chooses to reject our petition, we will ask for an extension to make adjustments and address any questions they have.”

Martinez said his group could take their proposal to county officials, if the school board denies the petition and refuses to allow a monthlong extension to make adjustments.

“If they (the board) vote not to endorse the petition, it’s not because there’s not a need here,” Martinez said. “It’s because of political reasons and money.”

Officials from Merced Union High School District have not returned multiple messages left by the Merced Sun-Star for comment since September.

The petition lays out plans for the school to open in 2017 with a freshman class of 200 students who would come mostly from Winton’s middle school. The school will implement the Common Core State Standards and put a special emphasis on English language learners, Martinez said.

Martinez identified two possible locations for the school: the Winton First Southern Baptist Church on Myrtle Avenue or the Evergreen Christian Center on Winton Way. Within a few years, Martinez said, the school will apply for grant money to build its own facility.

Winton currently has three elementary schools and one middle school, but high school students in the community typically attend Atwater High School.

A group of about 30 community members gathered Friday at the Winton Educational Center for an informational rally regarding a proposed charter school. Supporters say a high school in Winton will not only improve students’ high school experience, but also will be a foundation of pride in the community.

“Building community pride is the biggest reason behind the effort,” said Sean McDaniel, the president of the Pop Warner football team in Winton. “Just like in Delhi, having a high school created pride and community involvement.”

In 2012, the Merced Union High School District governing board furloughed about 15 bus drivers, ending most transportation for Winton high school students attending Atwater High. A few routes were brought back a couple of years later, but Winton parents and community members said Friday that each morning they watch hundreds of teens walk from Winton to Atwater for school.

Rosalio Servin, a Winton resident, has a son attending Atwater High. Servin said he would like to see a high school in Winton so it’s easier for parents to attend meetings and programs. “Maybe my kids won’t get to go there, but my grandkids will,” he said.

Martinez said the petition was based on “replica petitions” that have been used in other areas around the state to successfully establish charter schools.

“Nobody can negate there’s a need in the community for a high school in Winton,” Martinez said. “The high school population here is not enjoying a high school experience.”

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Winton groups work to rally support for charter high school."