Winton charter supporters plan to take petition to county level

The Winton Educational Foundation plans to take its petition for a charter high school to the Merced County Office of Education after the school board for the local high school district rejected it Wednesday.

When leaders of the educational foundation learned late last week that Merced Union High School District officials recommended the board reject the petition, they hoped to receive an extension.

The Merced High School library, where the board meeting was held, was packed with charter supporters wearing neon shirts that read “Support a Winton high school,” holding signs and advertising leadership classes offered by the Winton Educational Foundation.

MUHSD board members voted unanimously to reject the petition without consideration or discussion of an extension. Board members expressed concern about the district’s liability for the charter school, details about its budget and qualifications for teachers. Board members also said the district will work to address transportation complaints and to ensure Winton students attending Atwater High School receive equal opportunities.

Salvador Walle, a board member for the Winton Educational Foundation, said he felt the MUHSD board was not open-minded. “If they’re really serious about the kids, why haven’t they done anything?”

Juan Martinez, the president of the foundation, said he accepts the blame that the petition didn’t meet the board’s standards and will work to make corrections to it.

Before the board’s decision, teachers spoke against the charter school.

Blaine Barrick, a teacher at Atwater High, said he did not understand the charter supporters’ arguments for a Winton high school.

“There was some talk from the supporters that the students of Winton were not being served equally or adequately,” he said. “The majority of my students are from Winton. My classes would not be the same without the students from Winton. They are really achievers. They are dedicated. ... I don’t understand the argument that the Winton students are not being served by Atwater High School.”

Charter supporters say a high school in Winton would boost students’ academics and their participation in extracurricular activities; create pride in the community; and bring economic development. Parents have complained about high school students walking miles to Atwater High, where high school students attend, each morning and after school.

Parent Gonzalo Ayala said he pulled his children out of Atwater High because of transportation. Now they attend Livingston High because that’s where he works, he said. He invited board members to visit Winton so they could understand the community and its residents.

Trustee Greg Opinski assured the audience that the district does its best to serve Winton students. “Winton is not looked upon as anything but part of our school district,” he said.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Winton charter supporters plan to take petition to county level."