Welcome
November
11, 2008
Placer
County Office of Education to Vote on
Western Sierra Collegiate Academy on Thursday
We Need Your Help
Dear
WSCA Supporter,
Let
me start with the GOOD NEWS: WSCA is being recommended
for approval by the County Superintendent of Schools. Superintendent
Gayle Garbolino-Mojica and her staff have exhaustively reviewed
the WSCA charter petition and have determined it meets all the
requirements of law. The Superintendent is recommending that it
be approved by the County Board of Education on Thursday.
Now
the BAD NEWS: on Monday the Rocklin School District
launched a massive and misleading email, flyer and phone calling
campaign aimed at scaring parents. The Rocklin School District
is mobilizing misinformed parents to oppose WSCA by claiming that
WSCA will harm their children. THE REALITY IS THAT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT IS DESPERATELY SEEKING TO BLOCK THE APPROVAL OF A NEW
EDUCATIONAL CHOICE FOR ROCKLIN FAMILIES.
Here
is what the new WSCA charter will do:
- WSCA
offers a significantly different educational program than Rocklin
or Whitney High Schools. It will be a small, college preparatory
school with less than 100 students per grade level in grades
7-12. The research is clear; small schools improve student academic
performance and are safer.
- WSCA
will create a collaborative and supportive academic competition
across the board within our middle school and high school learning
communities, promoting excellence among teachers and students.
- WSCA
will provide opportunity for children who thrive in a small
school environment and for families looking for a strong academic
alternative starting at middle school.
- WSCA
will model itself on Pacific Collegiate School, the highest
achieving open enrollment public high school in California.
Here
is what the new WSCA charter will not do:
- WSCA
will not force the relocation of any Rocklin School District
students. The first year WSCA will serve no more than 150 students.
-
WSCA will not create overcrowding as experienced by RUSD at
Rocklin High a few years ago. WSCA students will be existing
Rocklin students who have chosen this new educational choice.
- WSCA
will not negatively impact 7th and 8th graders. Research has
proven 7th and 8th grade students benefit from fewer transitions.
They will thrive as they enter 9th grade having already attended
their school for two years. In the small school setting, they
will be mentored and will develop close relationships. Upper
classmen will provide positive role models, and the two extra
years spent at WSCA will lead to a greater sense of "community"
because the students spend more time there in a 7-12 configuration.
- ATTACHED
TO THIS EMAIL IS A QUESTION AND ANSWER HANDOUT WITH KEY INFORMATION
ABOUT WSCA
PLEASE
E-MAIL THE PLACER COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT
GARBOLINO-MOJICA AND LET THEM KNOW YOU SUPPORT WSCA!
In
your email you need to speak of your support for WSCA, as a choice
for families, in your own words. While cut and paste emails are
the easiest for the sender, they are also much less effective
in influencing public officials. Your own words are so much more
effective to demonstrate the strength of your position. Your
email message doesn't need to be long. It doesn't need to be a
literary masterpiece. It just needs to be sent!
Some
ideas for your email include - pick one or two:
1.
Be respectful. Don't put down other Rocklin schools. We need
to continue to take the high road and let the Placer Board see
that our concern is for what is best for children. Remember, WSCA
will be a public school so talk about why it is important for
you to have this choice for your children.
2. Talk about why WSCA offers a positive educational choice;
its small school size, its high expectations for all students,
its college preparatory approach.
3. Talk about how Rocklin Academy already shares space
at two schools and how it work very well. Explain how our students
are already friends and neighbors. They're on the same community
sports teams, are part of the same organizations like scouts,
and attend the same churches and synagogues as the rest of the
community. There is no us/them divide except as being created
by the District.
4. Talk about your positive experiences at Rocklin Academy
in a small school setting, with high expectations for all students.
5. Remind them that the County Superintendent report finds
that WSCA charter petition meets all the requirements of law.
6. Thank them in advance for their support.
7. About 20% of our families reside outside of Rocklin.
You are part of the Rocklin Academy family. However, please be
aware that some opposing WSCA will try to use where you live against
you/us. Please write you email, as your voice needs to be heard,
but don't emphasize your address.
PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL NOW! The addresses are listed below.
Please
send your email to
Gayle Garbolino-Mojica: ggarbolino@placercoe.k12.ca.us
Don Brophy: dabrophy@pacbell.net
Rich Colwell: rcolwell@placer.ca.gov
Scott Gnile: scott@gnitech.com
Lynn Oliver: lynnoliver18@gmail.com
Ken Sahl: ken2007@surewest.net
Ken Tokutomi : kentokcar@sbcglobal.net
Please
also send a copy to David Patterson: dpatterson@rocklinacademy.org
Questions
and Answers about the WSCA
The
Vote is Thursday November 13 - 7:00 PM
Placer County Office of Education
Nobli Room at 11700 Enterprise Drive
(Across the street from the main PCOE office)
Auburn, CA 95603
  
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