Politics & Government

Council Votes to Help Fund Clayton Valley Charter Campaign

By a 4-1 vote, the council decided to give the charter school campaign $8,500 to help with legal fees.

In a move described as "unprecedented," the Clayton City Council agreed to give up to $8,500 to the campaign to convert into a charter school.

Though all the council members voiced support for the charter school mission, Councilwoman Julie Pierce cast the lone "no" vote.

It's unusual for a city to use its general fund reserves to help campaign for a cause. Plus, Clayton Valley is in Concord, though it serves all public high school students from Clayton.

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The money will be an "unsecured loan," with the council asking the campaign to repay the city if it's successful. The funds will be used for legal fees.

Pierce, who emphasized her support for Clayton Valley teachers and the charter school idea, raised a number of objections to the measure.

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She said she thought approval would undermine the city's position in an ongoing billing dispute with the Mount Diablo Unified School District; would negatively impact the city's negotiations with its employees; and set a worrisome precedent.

Mayor David Shuey, who put the item on the agenda, told the council that the campaign had raised $1,500 of the $10,000 needed. If the council rejected the measure, Shuey warned, the campaign might be jeopardized because of a "timing issue" — lawyers are needed now to put together the charter application.

The campaign, which is only a couple of months old, is moving quickly on the application so teachers can vote in June about becoming a charter school, Shuey said. A majority vote by the teachers is required.

Nobody from the charter school campaign attended the meeting.

"This is when the rubber meets the road," Shuey said, acknowledging that, as a father of five, one of whom will attend Clayton Valley next year, he had a vested interest in the issue.

"We have to be decisive and proactive and show strong leadership for our citizens and our kids," he said. "I recognize the concerns, but we don't want to look back and say what we coulda', woulda', shoulda' done ... we have the power to do it and we should."

Pierce also wondered why, if the charter movement is so popular, it could not raise the funds to support the charter application. 

Despite her objections, she indicated she would be willing to support the measure if repayment were guaranteed. But it is not.

Shuey said he had thought of the same issues but reached a different conclusion. He said he didn't believe approving the measure would hurt the city in negotiations and said the campaign simply lacks the manpower, resources and time to raise the money.

"Precedent is what you make it," Shuey said. "This is a time for bold, decisive leadership."

Pierce said she's willing to set a precedent — if it's the right thing to do.

"I support the charter school idea, but I'm fervently against spending city money on that effort." 

Councilman Hank Stratford said he wrestled with his vote, but in the end believed it is in the best interest of Clayton's citizens, a stance echoed by Councilman Joe Medrano.

Councilman Howard Geller, who also voiced concerns about the precedent being set, voted in favor of the measure.

"I just think it's too important," he said after the meeting. "I believe this is what's best for our kids and the city, but this should only be a one-time thing."

With the MDUSD facing more budget cuts and layoffs, proponents of converting Clayton Valley to a charter school say it would mean more money for the school and give administrators the ability to implement programs and ideas that will improve education.

Though no Bay Area public high school has converted to a charter school, in the Los Angeles Unified School District 23 schools have converted

You can read more about the implications of Clayton Valley High becoming a charter school .


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