Countywide Charters: Fad or the Future?
Countywide charter petitions are becoming more and more common as education programs shift into new areas, and local district politics change. But what does it mean to have a "countywide justification" under section 47605.6, or to serve students in a manner that a district-charter cannot do as well?
Join this session to hear and discuss how successful charter operators are working with county offices of education to create new countywide options. This seasoned panel of school leaders and experts will cover the opportunities and potential downsides to this approach, and will share valuable tips and lessons learned.
Presented by
Janelle Ruley
Partner/Attorney at Law
Young, Minney & Corr, LLP
The transformative power of education drives Janelle Ruley. Since 2007, she has been an ardent advocate for the rights of charter schools, nonprofit public benefit corporations, and public agencies. She has shepherded the opening, renewal, and revision of nearly 1,000 charter schools while also defending against attempts to revoke them. Janelle regularly appears before administrative agencies, school districts, county boards of education, and the California State Board of Education. Janelle is a clear communicator and a trusted resource for schools and nonprofit boards. In her daily practice, Janelle regularly counsels' clients regarding charter school development, charter renewals, charter petition appeals, charter petition material revisions, drafting and revising memoranda of understanding, negotiations with chartering authorities, compliance with the Brown Act, the Political Reform Act, and Government Code Section 1090; and policy development related to public transparency laws.
John Lemmo
Partner/Attorney
Young, Minney & Corr LLP
John Lemmo has advised and represented charter leaders and schools, government agencies, and nonprofits on operations, facilities, finance, governance, innovation and other legal issues for decades. John is skilled in local advocacy, and has litigated many seminal charter school lawsuits. He regularly handles charter petitions/renewals, material revisions, mergers, authorizer relations, lease/purchase deals, complex regulatory matters, and strategic planning. John is a frequent presenter to CSDC and numerous other professional and academic organizations, covering charter school law and policy, education, and public agency law. He is a partner with Young, Minney & Corr LLP.
Jolene Yee
Co-Founder
Mayacamas Charter Middle School
Jolene Yee is the Co-Founder of Mayacamas Charter Middle School, the first new school to receive State Board approval under AB1505, and Mayacamas Countywide Middle School, a new Countywide. Jolene and Lauren Daley + a village of supporters have spent the last three-plus years fighting for quality public school education in the Napa Valley. Jolene’s day job is GC & VP of Govt Affairs for Delicato Family Wines. She serves on the Advisory Board for Hamel Family Wines, serves on the Board of the Press Democrat Journalism Trust, and is a former Professional Faculty at Sonoma State. During miracle free time, you’ll likely find her hanging with her family, songwriting or walking her large lab Moonshine.
Ric Esquivel
CEO
Grow Public Schools