According to a 2003 statewide Rand evaluation, charter schools’more so than regular public schools’expand family choices, encourage parental involvement, increase teacher satisfaction, and raise academic achievement. ”Mark Snyder, the new chairman of the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation, believes the report is accurate and timely, especially since all seven schools in the foundation (Canyon, Marquez, Topanga, Kenter, Palisades Elementary, Paul Revere, and Palisades High School) are charter schools and are in the process of starting their charter renewals. ”Kathleen Hall-Goldner, a local realtor for Coldwell Banker and the foundation’s new co-chair, concurs with Snyder. Both are Palisades residents, and they recently shared the Foundation’s vision for the remainder of the school year. ”Charter schools were approved in California in 1992 as an alternative to public and private schools, with each school required to renew its charter every five years. ”The Palisades Charter Schools Foundation has stepped forward to host three workshops in March, April and June for parents and teachers from the seven local schools that will focus on the renewal and writing process. The Sacramento law firm of Spector, Middleton, Young & Minney, which has foremost expertise about charter schools in California, has been retained to provide expert assistance in writing the 16 necessary elements required by the state and school district in a school’s charter. ”In addition, the Foundation has hired Excellent Education Development Corporation of Santa Monica, a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to partner with charter schools to prepare review documents that will assess potential revenue and expenses for each individual school, so they can decide if they want to become a directly funded charter school. ”Snyder, who has a Ph.D. in education, has been employed by LAUSD for 25 years and currently works at PaliHi. He was one of the key people responsible for leading the school into fiscal independence a year ago. His son, Michael Brenner, is a freshman at Pali. Mark hopes to encourage each school to be as aggressive in its wish to have the most autonomy possible. To him this means that parents and teachers would work collaboratively to have the power over decisions that determine the education of every student. He feels the more control school leaders have over finances, the more control they have over all aspects of a child’s education. ”Hall-Goldner, who chaired the Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Concert last spring, feels lucky to have such good neighborhood schools. Her daughter, Elizabeth Hall, attended Kenter Canyon, Paul Revere and PaliHi, and is currently attending George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C. ”She and Snyder both believe that the Palisades Charter School Complex is a model for the entire United States. They are unaware of any other school system in the country where a student can start in a charter school at the kindergarten level and remain in a charter system until they graduate from high school. ”’The Complex gives the community enormous ability to partner with their schools,’ Snyder said. ‘Our schools are consistently top ranked in California, and are recognized as distinguished schools. In 2003, nearly all the seniors graduating from Pali went on to college.’ ”As well as steering charter renewal this year, the Foundation also plans to once again support the Lori Petrick Teacher Recognition Award. This program was initiated last year to give a small financial reward to a teacher or teachers chosen for outstanding achievement and inspiration in one of the seven charter schools. Since all educational research has shown that a student’s achievement is tied directly to a teacher’s effectiveness, the Foundation hopes this award will continue to reward teachers that help students achieve their potential. ”In addition, the Foundation plans to help with community awareness. Snyder and Hall-Goldner agree that there is a sense that many of the achievements of some of the charter schools’ students are not being sufficiently highlighted so that kids get their full recognition. In a community that perceives education as a top priority, the co-chairs would like to see outstanding students and programs acknowledged. They’d also like to see more members of the community get involved in partnering in education. ”Along with Snyder and Hall-Goldner, new Foundation officers this year include secretary Sue Pascoe and co-treasurers Mo McGee and Debra Hafford. The Foundation welcomes donations to keep their dream possible: ‘Neighborhood schools helping students achieve to their highest ability.’ Checks can be made out to The Palisades Charter Schools Foundation and mailed to: 15777 Bowdoin Street, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. ”Contact Mark Snyder at PaliHi: 454-0611, x3090.
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