September 3, 2019
Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, District 70
Assemblymember Rob Bonta, District 18
Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, District 7
Assemblymember Christy Smith, District 38
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249
Re: AB 1505 (O’Donnell, Bonta, McCarty, Smith)
Charter School Authorization, Oversight, Appeals and Renewal
Honorable Assemblymembers O’Donnell, Bonta, McCarty, and Smith:
This letter is in support of the proposed amendments to AB 1505 (O’Donnell, Bonta, McCarty Smith). It is critically important
that the chartering authority at the local LEA be amended so that local decision makers have the ability to weigh fiscal impact to a
school district when determining if a charter petition is eligible to meet the needs of the local constituents of the LEA.
A dozen of our students from Independence High School (one of eleven comprehensive schools in ESUHSD) came to speak at the
State Board of Education meeting last year to explain how the approval of new charter schools has harmed their educational
experience. Sharing of sports fields created new safety concerns forcing students to walk home late at night and restricting use of
the track. We were forced to approve new charter schools, even though it meant elimination of counselors and limited student
access to the science lab, computer lab, and music program. We seek some relief in the law; to consider the needs of students both
in charter schools and in other public schools within our district.”
In giving the chartering authority the ability to consider the fiscal impact of approving new charter schools, and whether approval
of a new charter school will undermine existing programs and services, decision makers will be granted the discretion to address
these problems and others in the authorization process of new charter school petitions.
Local decisions need to be made locally by the elected trustees who serve on school boards. Families have the opportunity to be
heard and express their support for or against charter school petitions by attending local Board of Education meetings and provide
feedback under public comment, as well as ultimately speaking their voice during the election season when candidates are running
for the school board.
I am in support of AB 1505 (O’Donnell, Bonta, McCarty, Smith) Charter School Authorization, Oversight, Appeals and Renewal.
Sincerely,

Chris D. Funk
Superintendent
East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees
Pattie Cortese, President

Lan Nguyen, Vice President

Van T. Le, Clerk

J. Manuel Herrera, Member

Lorena Chavez, Member

Chris D. Funk, Superintendent

830 N. Capitol Ave.
J. Manuel Herrera, President

San Jose, CA 95133

Van Thi Le, Vice President

T 408.347.5000

Magdalena Carrasco, Clerk

Chris D. Funk, Superintendent

F 408.347.5015
Frank Biehl, Member

esuhsd.org
Lan Nguyen, Member