Newly approved charter school says no to proposed location
The lead petitioner to open a new charter school on Burbank Boulevard said on Thursday its proposed location isn’t going to work out, but two public meetings slated to discuss the new school will be still held.
Julia Yeranossian-Aghishian said school officials are going to pass on opening the Giligia Charter Academy in a vacant building at 3917 W. Burbank Blvd.
“That location for our intents and purposes was not conducive enough,” she said. “The landlord really didn’t want to lease it to the school. They wanted to maintain it as a [production] studio.”
Following the school board’s approval of a petition to open the charter school — which would have about 120 students in kindergarten through 12th grade — residents approached city and school officials with concerns about the school operating on Burbank Boulevard, near Hollywood Way, because it could increase traffic.
Meanwhile, Yeranossian-Aghishian is considering three other sites in Burbank as potential locations for the new charter school.
A town hall meeting about the school will still be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the corner of Burbank Boulevard and Kenwood Street, said Burbank resident Jeff Skinner, who organized the meeting.
“I think it’s a relevant issue,” he said, adding that the school could still open near other Burbank residents who may face the same potential problems.
“I don’t think I’m alone,” he said.
Likewise, a public forum organized by Burbank school officials will be held 6 p.m. on Monday at the Burbank Adult School, 3811 Allan Ave., to address questions residents may have about the charter school.
“We want to hear the concerns of the community,” said Roberta Reynolds, president of the Burbank Unified school board. “We are there to listen to the concerns, and to bring those into any decision-making as we move forward.”
Yeranossian-Aghishian said she plans to attend the district-organized forum on Monday.
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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.
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