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Foster City official: School not a good fit
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Foster City, Calif. (Map, News) - While Foster City has craved its own high school for much of its existence, some City Council members are concerned that the latest attempt — a charter school — may not be the right fit.
On Sept. 17, the Foster City High School Foundation will present their business plan to the council and local residents. However, Councilmember Pam Frisella said the proposed school, a public school that would serve students from Foster City and beyond, without athletic programs or facilities, doesn’t mesh with the council’s plans for a community center on the site.
“If we were fighting for a full-service high school, where the community could go to football games, to make a nice community focus, it would be different,” she said.
The proposed school — on four of 15 acres owned by the city at Foster City’s heart — would be a tuition-free public institution like traditional high schools, operated using a business model by Envision Schools.
It would not have athletic facilities, but would focus instead on academics and technology.
Foundation President Phyllis Moore said the group is finishing its business plan for the city — which must outline financing for the design and construction of the $15 million school — and preparing to petition the San Mateo Union High School District for a charter to operate the school.
“The City Council has built a senior center and a teen center, and we’d love to see them have a real commitment for an educational center for Foster City, and the school will be a tenant in that building,” Moore said.
The foundation had once entertained ideas of opening in temporary facilities in 2008. Difficulties in developing a business plan, finding funding and working with the high school district have set that back, potentially as far back as 2010.
Much of the timeline depends on a proposed November 2008 state bond for school constructions, possibly including charter schools.
Frisella said the hopes for future bond money are not enough to convince her that Envision and the foundation have a viable project for the city.
“There’s never been a solid lead on any of this to me,” Frisella said. “Every plan that we’ve looked at has not been solid.”
Envision representatives did not return calls for comment from The Examiner.
The business plan will be discussed publicly at the Sept. 17 Foster City Council meeting.
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Comments from Examiner Readers
3:50 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 28, 2007 re: "Foster City official: School not a good fit"
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Will said:
Foster City deserves its own high school; local education is an American tradition. Council member Frisella's statement that the current plan for a public charter high school is not a good fit as it doesn't provide for athletic facilities is disingenuous- the City Council is trying to give 11 of the 15 available acres away for commercial development! It would be great if all 15 acres could be used for a Community Education Center encompassing a high school. If that is not possible, then the current submitted plan using 4 acres is best- this is still enough room for a quality education center for our children in the heart of our city. Let's take responsibility as a city for the education of our own teens, and give Foster City a public high school!
143 agree | 163 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Councilmember Pam Frisella's comment is ironic because she joined with her four fellow council members in a unanimous vote to include the high school in the Community Center . Her comment is also ironic because the planned high school fits nicely with nearby Teen Center , Recreation Center and Library. If she's concerned about rowdy teenagers, she need not worry, since the Police Station is also next door.
131 agree | 144 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ms. Frisella sent her sons to private schools. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the money for private education. I'd like to be able to send my children to a public, tuition-free, academically challenging high school. Most of us peons under her reign support public education in our neighborhoods. Plus, as an adult I'd like to see classes for adults in an education center without driving across 101 to get there.
154 agree | 114 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind's made up." Frisella surveyed the city residents. 80% wanted a HS. She's supposed to represent them. Why bother spending staff's time (read $$$ in salaries) and then reject the results?
157 agree | 139 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Isn't Pam the same person that said there were people going around collecting donations for the high school only to have the Police step in and say that it was not true?
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Examiner Reader said:
The 15-acres was originally set aside for a high school and is still zoned for education. A recent city survey indicated 80% of City residents want a high school. The Council decided to reduce the school from 15 acres to 4 acres so that it could develop the rest of the 11 acres for senior housing. Now Frisella is saying there is no football games. Friscella, you took away the acres for your beloved football games!
133 agree | 151 disagree
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