Performing Arts school less than five months from reality
The countdown has begun for the start of the inaugural school year for the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts. The new public charter school will welcome students in grades six through 10 starting Aug. 10.
Founder Neil McChesney and his staff are in the final stages of securing a site within Mt. Diablo Unified School District boundaries to house 300 students and a staff of about 20. McChesney says the “long-term vision” of the School of Performing Arts is still at the Concord Pavilion. For now, they are in the process of finalizing a site that will be the school’s home this fall and perhaps indefinitely.
He adds that “we will have a relationship with the Pavilion starting this year.”
While there is a great deal of excitement as the school continues accepting students (“about 260-270 so far”) for the initial student body of 300, McChesney is glowing over the hiring of Michael Berry as the school’s artistic director.
Berry has been associate artistic director and chair of the School of Theatre at Oakland School for the Arts for the past seven years. The SPA website says, “A veteran actor, director and educator, Berry brings with him a wealth of artistry, vision, dedication and passion as he continues to influence and shape the artistic direction and academic success for all students with which he works.”
His accomplishments as an educator, include being the creator and visionary for such initiatives and projects as the Bay Area Collegiate Theatre Auditions and “Oakland’s Got Talent.” Among Berry’s most distinguished accomplishments was winning a 2014 National Teaching Artist Fellowship Award, enabling him to study abroad at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, focusing on Deaf/Visual Theatre.
Berry says his philosophy “is deeply rooted in the belief that all students can learn. Arts and academics share equal value in the ultimate vision; creating well-balanced students, prepared for future success and equipped to be contributing members of their community, regardless of their future career endeavors.”
In the 2016-17 school year McChesney anticipates about 66 students (two classes of 33) for grades six through nine and about half that many in 10th grade. There will be a waitlist this year of nearly 200 students. The following school year the student body is projected to increase to 500 as 11th grade is added. The first seniors will graduate in 2018-19 school year.
The school is currently funding its staff and other financial obligations through grants from the Silicon School Fund and Public Charter Schools, a federal program for startup charter schools. They have also applied for a State Charter School loan. It will most likely be sometime in the fall before the school starts receiving “average daily attendance” funding from the state.
McChesney says that “over $100,000 in cash donations and in-kind services have been pledged” to the charter. That includes 1700 square feet of free office space in Walnut Creek for the current staff of five.
Charter wins lawsuit
McChesney also announced that the school successfully defeated a lawsuit filed by MDUSD challenging the approval of SPA’s charter petition on appeal by the Contra Costa County Board of Education.
“SPA is pleased with the Court’s decision and is excited to move forward with its plans to open this fall,” said the executive director. “The approval of SPA’s charter petition withstood MDUSD’s challenge. This outcome is a victory for school choice in our community and acknowledges the County’s authority to exercise its expertise to approve charter petitions.”
Last October, the school district filed a lawsuit against the CCCBOE and SPA alleging that the county board abused its discretion in approving SPA’s charter petition and improperly amended SPA’s petition through a subsequently entered Memorandum of Understanding. The relief sought was the setting aside of the approval of SPA’s charter petition and an order to CCCBOE that it re-evaluate and vote to grant or deny the petition in accordance with Education Code section 47605(b).
Contra Costa County Superior Court rejected MDUSD’s arguments and denied all relief sought earlier this year.