Mo Charnot
The MASTERS Program administrators answer questions for the Public Education Commission regarding their application to renew the school's charter, which was approved Thursday.
Despite a pending lawsuit against it, a state-operated charter school was renewed for funding and operation for another five years.
After reviewing the recommendation from the Charter Schools Division and listening to dozens of parent, teacher and student testimonies, The Public Education Commission voted unanimously to renew The MASTERS Program on Thursday.
The Santa Fe school opened in 2010, offering an individual curriculum for each student “to honor learning preferences and interests,” with an emphasis on the Socratic method, according to its website.
At Thursday’s meeting, the room was packed with current and former students, families and faculty, most speaking favorably of their experiences with the school.
One student, Willow Schwartz Szeto, told the PEC she found her love of biology in her time studying at The MASTERS Program, and hopes to get her associate’s degree in the subject when she graduates.
“Having this college readiness program has allowed me to expand my interests, look into different career paths I might be interested in, and then be able to grow on that,” Schwartz Szeto said.
More than 20 other students, most involved with the school’s student ambassadors program, also shared how the school helped them discover their passions in fields including law, politics, agriculture, engineering and psychology. Bonnie Gallegos, another student, said the school helped her connect with her teachers in a way previous schools had not, and said the school “found a place in my heart.” Several faculty members and parents also echoed these praises of the school.
Mo Charnot
Plenty of students and families of The MASTERS Program shared testimony during the public comment portion of the meeting, with most in favor of renewing the charter.
The meeting also drew a few former teachers and parents who voiced concerns about violations of special education law and alleged mistreatment of former employees, students and their families. Diana Boyd and Kristin Carlisle, who filed a lawsuit against the school in October, were among those who criticized the charter renewal.
Boyd briefly recounted her experience, also detailed in the lawsuit, which alleges she was “pushed out of her teaching job” after bringing 10 concerns about special education practices at the school, two of which the Public Education Department deemed violated state law.
“A school where remaining staff might feel afraid to advocate for students is an unsafe environment,” Boyd said.
Boyd did not ask for the charter to not be renewed, but asked the PEC to put restrictions on the renewal.
After public comment ended, District 4 Commissioner Rebekka Burt told attendees who voiced concerns about the charter renewal that while their concerns are “not unheard,” the PEC’s role is not to partake in investigations of complaints made by those in the school community, and can only act after they have reviewed the results of complaints and investigations completed by the PED. Commissioner Timothy Beck agreed.
“You're not in the wrong forum; you never have to apologize for bringing any kind of concerns, issues, to address the commission ever,” Burt said. “But there are established processes in place that are available to any family, any student, any teacher. I don’t want anybody to feel unheard because I am not going to base my decision today around the complaints.”
The PEC ultimately chose to renew the charter for 5 more years without restriction, per the recommendation by the Charter Schools Division read by Cheryl Rowe, an authorizing practices administrator with the PED.
The Charter Schools Division based its recommendation on the school's academic performance over the course of the contract term. Rowe said despite a significant drop in scores, the state school was still considered above average in academics by the PED, attributing the drop to an enrollment increase that included students with proficiency gaps in English and math.
“[TMP] met the standards on student outcomes, educational program and equity and identity, they demonstrated substantial progress in governance responsibilities and other performance framework indicators,” Rowe read from the summary report, adding that during visits to the school, any standards not met (progress in mission, specific goals and financial compliance) are being extensively improved by the school administration.
District 10 Commissioner Steven Carrillo, while showing support for the school’s academic performance and confidence the school brings to students, said his biggest concern for The MASTERS Program was a high level of governing council turnover. He suggested the school invite more public comment to its governing council meetings after governing council member (and SFCC Associate Dean) Kelly Trujillo said public comment “hasn’t been robust” at the school’s meetings.
Carrillo also raised this concern about administrator turnover, asking Haas Moskowitz about her long-term plan as the fourth head of school in the past five years. Haas Moskowitz responded that her commitment to the school is “enormous and infinite.”
“I am a very loyal and committed person. I will stay here for the rest of my working days,” Haas Moskowitz said. “Am I the person that the school wants and the community wants? I guess that's yet to be determined—through, hopefully, a very robust evaluation—because I do agree in avenues and systems for processing concerns, complaints, as well as for impromptu conversations and relationship building.”
The PEC voted 9-0 in favor of renewing the charter without restrictions. Haas Moskowitz told SFR she has no comment on the decision.
