By Gwen Davis

The Washington State Charter School Commission held a public forum Tues. evening regarding the approval of Summit Public School, a West Seattle charter school that will open in the fall, if approved. The forum gave the opportunity for both proponents and challengers of charter schools to give testimony. Most testifyers were supporters of charter schools.

The meeting had around 300 people.

“Welcome to our first public forum,” the executive director of the organization said. "Tonight we’ll hear from Seattle Public Schools. We’re dedicated to create a safe and civil atmosphere for everyone present.

"This is for the public to learn,” he continued. "The commission is meeting on August 13. Three commissioners are here tonight to learn. They may interrupt the applicant for any clarification they may have.”

The three commissioners then introduced themselves to the audience.

People giving testimony had two minutes.

For individuals who did needed translation support had four minutes.

First there was a 15-minute presentation.

The chief regional director took the floor. “We are applying to open a 6-12 grade school here in this building. We would build a new structure to accommodate our 6-12 kids.” Renderings of the new budding were displayed in the front of the room. The building is at 9601 35th Ave. SW.

“I started my teaching carrier 15 years ago and I taught in Highline and I was very young, had 38 kids in my class, and taught ELL with no training,” she said. “I loved it. It was really hard and I loved it. I promised myself when I left I would come back and serve this amazing community again. I have deep respect and love for the hope and diversity and love that is present here.”

She then shared photos from her former charter schools in California.

100 percent of the kids were admitted into four-year colleges, she said.

“That was true for our kids in California, and that will be true if our school is approved here in West Seattle,” she said.

The to-be executive director of the school then took the floor.

“We can guarantee that the student has been prepared for college by four elements." he said. Further, “we have a personalized learning plan for each student that will help them going through the content knowledge.” He also said they will work in their own pace, with their families and mentors. Some students, he said, need to see everything in writing, some need a video, some need hands-on.”

“Our students are to lean how to learn so they are self-directive learners,” he said.

He then emphasized the mentor part of the program. Every student has an adult who will coach them through interpersonal dynamics and other challenges. Students see their mentors on a daily to weekly basis.

The expeditions program delivers real world experiences, he said. “To run the expeditions program, we partner with community-based organizations in the area who are already experts in these things,” he said.

“Summit is committed to serving a student community that is truly diverse,” the next facilitator said. “We believe we’ll be able to build on the ground work we already laid. We are also very proud of the accomplishments across all of our students. Almost all of our students throughout all schools were accepted to a four-year college.”

The executive director then introduced the public forum. Commenters were given a blue ticket in a raffle as a way of organizing people to speak.

The first testifier: “One of the things that I know as a parent and school board member is that parents love choice,” she said. “I have a son who is in high school and talking to people and people want to go to a place where their children feel valued and excel. The thing that I want to say, I want kids to have a choice and be among this diverse population. I want to make sure the folks at Summit are serious in education when it comes to our kids. I don’t want it to take away our high-acheving kids out of the system. We all need to do what’s best.

Second commenter: “Summit is a critical leader with a proven track record. In Washington, nearly one in every five students don’t graduate on time. The successful launch of charter schools are underway with strong support. By no exaggeration, Summit is transforming education. I urge the commission to give the families of West Seattle the choice. Summit will provide to the students and families in West Seattle.”

A commentator, Greg Harrington, told West Seattle Herald that he was opposed to charter schools. “I am here tonight to urge the commission to reject this Charter school’s application. Summit’s proposal does not adequately ensure quality curriculum. This proposal calls for ‘taxation without representation’. Summit will appoint their own board and will marginalize parents and community members to an ‘advisory’ role. This is unacceptable,” he said.

They are funded by “distant billionaires” and “out-of-town Stanford graduates”, Harrington said. Charters are a “corporate sham”.

Another commentator with the Raikes Foundation and a Rainier Beach parent said she believed in neighborhood, high-quality schools. “We were the only family that chose to send our child to a public school in south Seattle,” she said. She doesn’t have options like they do. "The country needs our students to be confident, assured and courageous,” she said.

“I think so often we hear the role that schools give to students,” another commentator said who was involved in a charter school in Spokane. “We’ve been supplied a coach to make sure we had a really strong start to our charter school [in. Our students will have the same amazing results the Summit schools in California have because of the partnership.”

“I’m hear to tell you that the doors are open,” another commentator said in Spanish, using a translator. “We are here to support the Hispanic community and all of you. We believe we can bring a good act to society if we are educated. I believe Summit Public Schools can give something that we and our children need.”

”I haven't made up my mind yet,” another commentator said. “I have a 5th and 2nd grade daughter. I was born and raised here. Unfortunately, my daughters go to private school. It’s because after all these years they didn’t have a choice.” In the initial public school there were too many students. “I would love to see my daughters not be held back because of address, income. I would love to see all our kids have a choice.”

“We support quality public education,” another commentator said. “If they are public, we are here to support them. We look forward to continuing to support Summit Public Schools and other state schools.”