Koscielny wonders why teachers have not yet been hired. And this is a person who makes decisions re: the future of our children.

Thats a little horse before the cart, don't you think. Of course, then you are looking at the backend of the horse, which does indeed describe most of the politicians in the SCV.

“It’s unfortunate the lead petitioner is not here to answer all our questions,” said board member Paul De La Cerda.

Thank you Paul. It must not be that important to AEA if the executive guy can't be there but he felt it was more important to go visit a school.

Denial #4 coming up.

These people should be ashamed of themselves for continuing to waste taxpayers money this way. How many times is the Saugus District required to consider their petition? And why do they keep going back to the Saugus District? What about Newhall or Sulphur Springs? If you want to provide a choice to the "under-served" why not put the campus in Canyon Country?

Lefty, I take offence to the idea that because I live in Canyon Country I am under served, or not as good as those of you that live elsewhere in the SCV. Since when did Canyon Country become under served? And it does not matter where the campus is, anyone can attend. I live in CC but my kids go to AEA in Valencia.

As for the lead petitioner not being there, why can't he ask questions of Eddie, who is in charge and just as knowledgable? Why not be open to meeting with the lead petitioner? Obviously he is at another AEA site, which means they are doing well enough to be approved in three other areas with the same petition. Hmmm.

As for the teachers not being hired, that has to be one of the dumbest comments made by a board member. (And not a reason for denial under law) And it does not surprise me the member it came from. SCVforall is right, a little cart before the horse.

As for wasting taxpayers money, I am a taxpayer and I do not think it is a waste to bring choice to my children. The fact that Dr. Lucid estimates it as $200,000 is amazing. Why? Because they can somehow find that to continue to deny a choice for my children but they cannot figure out where to get the money to keep their teachers employed.

While it is true that anyone can attend it may be more difficult to some residents in areas farther from Valencia to physically transport their children to the campus. I find it strange that neither charter school (Einstein or SCVi) has chosen to locate their campuses in an area more accessible to the eastern part of Santa Clarita.

SCVI and AEA are both located in the Industrial Center. An area that had a lot of available commercial space large enough to house a school site.

If enough appropriate space was available in other parts of the SCV, schools would be built.

According to the article on KHTS Einstein has been approved for an "extended learning campus" near San Diego. What is an "extended learning campus"?

Schools all over California. Sounds like a corporation to me. Oh yeah. It is. Their executive director couldn't even come to the meeting.

arneyma: If SUSD didn't have to continue paying ridiculous amounts to review each charter petition there would be more money available to the existing schools. I wonder how financially solvent they are since they sold a $6.5 million private bond to pay for the expansion & purchase of their current building, where, apparently the hoped for K-6 will not even located.

Einstein is not a Corporation. It's a school that works. If all schools were charters instead, allowing students and their parents to pick what works best for them, the world would be a better place. We would have governance that cares and is involved and the bs would go bye bye

"Corporation. It's a school that works."
Corporations are a business structure and yes Einstein is organized as a corporation.

That aside what is actually wrong with the schools in Santa Clarita?

I understand some areas would benefit from a charter school but the Santa Clarita valley does not appear to be one.

If you think we have problems in our local schools let's fix them instead of creating new problems. Nothing will prevent the charter schools from unionizing in the future.

Another point if the main guy was too busy to attend the meeting how can he run a chain of schools up and down the coast?

In order to qualify for 501c non-profit revenue bonds you must be a corporation.
XeroBeef is absolutely correct.

Any organization that relies on only "one main guy" to represent them, is fooling themselves. Even those that are self-employed have to rely on a network of people to keep them in business.

Quit focusing on what's not relevant and focus on what's important here. People want choice..Saugus is afraid..and our kids will suffer

Yes!!!! Focus on what is important. The application lacks the requirements, AGAIN.

Lefty: You clearly don't get it. The petition reviews do not cost the district additional funds--they have salaried employees to do the job. The SUSD cannot seem to find competent people to perform their jobs--this is not the fault of the petitioners (taxpayers who live within the SUSD, I might add).