Vallejo school board blocks charter school Elite’s push to add classrooms

VALLEJO — During a meeting Wednesday, the Vallejo City Unified School District’s Board of Education declined to adopt a document that would have allowed Elite Public Schools, a charter school, to apply for state funding to build 13 classrooms.

While allowing Elite to access the funding would not have directly taken money out of the district’s budget, Superintendent Ruben Aurelio recommended against approval at the meeting. Aurelio said that approving the request could cause financial risks for the district, as the funding’s program would require “significant long term obligations.”

Community members from Elite praised the school and said that seeking state funding wouldn’t harm the district.

Elite was seeking funding through Proposition 2, a ballot measure California voters approved last year that allocated $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and modernization of schools, $600 million of which was earmarked for charters. 

Elite’s push to expand comes as it saw a recent enrollment decline. While the school’s enrollment increased since it opened in the 2019-2020 school year with  498 students, and peaked during the 2023-2024 school year when it enrolled 680 students, it lost 10% of its enrollment last year, when 612 students attended the school.

The district-owned property in northern Vallejo that Elite uses for its school was once home to the now shuttered public school Elsa Widenmann elementary. Elite can use that property under a ten year agreement that expires in 2032 and includes two conditional five-year options to extend. According to district recommendations prepared by Aurelio, if Elite were to receive the state funding, the district would be required to extend that agreement with Elite to 30 years, and also place the property in a state trust.

Aurelio said that entering into a 30 year agreement would mean that, should Elite close or move during that timeframe, “the district’s ability to repurpose, sell or lease the property…would be severely limited,” as the state would exert control over it for the length of the agreement. With the district facing financial challenges that have caused it to plan schools’ closures and deep cuts, Aurelio warned against giving up control of its property.

“Each property under district ownership represents an important public asset that must be managed strategically to maximize flexibility, preserve long-term value, and ensure every decision supports the education of VCUSD students,” Aurelio said. “Entering into a 30 year obligation with no financial or operational benefit to the district would be inconsistent with our fiscal and stewardship goals.”

Aurelio’s move to encourage the board to deny the charter school’s request was met with opposition from eight Elite parents, teachers and admins who spoke out during public comments.

Jasmine Taylor, a teacher at Elite as well as an Elite parent, praised the school and said that Elite getting funding would not affect the district’s budget.

“It is a family there. These kids are getting what they need,” Taylor said. “I keep hearing that they’re taking funding from the Vallejo school district. This money is not getting taken from Vallejo School District, this is not a part of their budget. This is a part of the California state budget that is going to be offered to us.”

Kay Stewart, an Elite parent, praised the school for its safety protocols and asked for the district to allow it to seek state funding.

Jerry Geronimo, part of the Elite community, criticized the district for its actions. Charter schools and public schools compete to enroll students, whose attendance they rely on for state funding. According to Geronimo, the district is competing unfairly.

“We gotta be honest with each other, it is a competition,” Geronimo said. “There’s two ways to win a race, you can either be faster than your competition, or you can chop the legs off of your competition. Right now, the funds that you’re holding will improve the learning environment for Elite. You’re deciding on whether you’re going to chop the legs off Elite.”

Tensions have long been high between Elite and the district. Elite was founded in 2019 by Ramona Bishop, shortly after she was fired as the district’s superintendent in 2018. Citing what it called Elite’s “unsound educational plan,” the Vallejo School District’s board denied permission for it to operate initially. Elite appealed to the Solano County Board of Education board, which overturned the district’s decision and allowed it to open. 

In 2023, Elite successfully sued the district, alleging it had overcharged Elite for maintenance fees, and the charter school successfully recouped over $1 million.

In a public comment Bishop praised Elite’s academics and criticized the district for recommending against allowing the school to apply for the state funding.  “When it comes to the Proposition 2 money, I pay taxes just like you do,” Bishop said. “That’s my money. It’s a state bond.”

Two union leaders with the district along with two teachers supported the district’s stance in public comment. Collete Laie, a library technician with the district and a member of the California School Employees Association, which represents school support staff, said the union opposed charter school expansion as it could cause the district to lose attendance and the funding that comes with it. 

Vallejo Education Association President Kevin Steele said that the educators’ union opposes charter school expansion because the district has enough room for all of Vallejo’s students on its public school campuses.

Ultimately the board chose not to consider the resolution that Elite asked it to vote on, which would have allowed it to apply for the state funding. Immediately following the board’s decision not to vote, several members of the Elite community, including Bishop, criticized the board.

District spokesperson Celina Baguiao told the Vallejo Sun that on Thursday, the day following the board’s meeting, members of the Elite community protested at the district central office during school hours.

“A group gathered to protest in the lobby area,” Baguiao said. “The activity remained contained to that public space, and district office operations continued as usual since the lobby is open to the public.”

Bishop confirmed to the Sun that a group protested at district offices Thursday, and said members of the Elite community also protested at several other locations. 

“We also protested at Vallejo City Hall, Solano County Office of Education, Assembly Member Lori Wilson office, Senator Christopher Cabaldon's office, and Congressman John Garamendi's office,”  Bishop said. “These student-led protests will continue until our school community is treated with the dignity and respect it deserves.”

Bishop said that the Elite community is demanding that the board consider Elite’s request again before Oct. 29. Elite must apply for state funding before an Oct. 30 deadline.