IRVINE : Activist Seeks Support for Charter School

When he’s not busy leading the recall campaign against three council members over the city’s investments in the county pool, Gary Kingsbury spends his time pushing for the creation of a charter school in the city.

But school board members this week gave his proposal a chilly reception.

Irvine Unified School District officials had previously asked Kingsbury to delay his plans for a year because of the county bankruptcy. Looking elsewhere for support, Kingsbury contacted the San Carlos Unified School District in San Mateo County. San Carlos was among nine school districts granted permission in February, 1993, to create the state’s first charter schools.

Under legislation sponsored by former state Sen. Gary Hart, up to 100 schools can obtain charters allowing them to operate free of state Education Code regulations and independently of school boards and districts. But the schools must achieve state educational standards.

The San Carlos district offered to sponsor a start-up charter school in the Irvine Spectrum business park, according to Kingsbury. He said a one-year delay could make it impossible to create a charter school in Irvine because only 19 charters remain.

Although Irvine trustees encouraged Kingsbury to submit a formal proposal, they also made it clear they do not want a Northern California school district involved in the education of Irvine students. Acting Supt. Dean Waldfogel said San Carlos officials told him they would not sponsor the proposed school if the Irvine school board objected.

Longtime school board member Margie Wakeham said she does not see a demand among parents for a charter school. “I support the idea of charter schools,” she said. “But I don’t see the groundswell of support here.”