Members of the Morongo Unified School District’s Board of Education are having a busy week. Last night they met to make difficult decisions regarding the district’s charter schools. And tomorrow they’ll be gathering for a special work study session to hammer out a strategic plan for the future, a timeline for development, and a discussion on board governance. Reporter David Haldane attended last night’s meeting and filed this report.
The tension was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Then it happened: The Morongo Unified School District’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to cut all ties with Hope Academy, the Yucca Valley charter school that’s been serving the district for nearly five years.
Board member Karalee Hargrove, who made the damning motion, minced no words in explaining why. “It has been five years of a mess. Their test scores are failing. When the kids do come back from Hope to our district, our teachers are working overtime to catch them back up on their schedule.”
The vote came near the end of a three-hour standing-room only meeting during which several spoke in the school’s defense, including Hope superintendent Kyle Hannah, who submitted a letter calling the findings “unlawful” and “flawed.”
The meeting wasn’t entirely negative, however; the board also held a public hearing on what could become the district’s new charter school: The Joshua Tree Arts and Technology Academy.
A vote on its petition is expected soon.
Tomorrow’s work study session gets underway 8 a.m. at La Contenta Middle School.
MORONGO UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD CUTS TIES WITH HOPE ACADEMY
