OCSA Charter Renewal

Cas Kesig - Managing Editor

Like the rapture, Dean of Facilities and Supervision Michael Ciecek’s voice descending from the loudspeaker: “This amazing school that you have, this amazing culture, this amazing group of people that has worked together will continue to be here for the next five years.”

Following several months of animosity between OCSA and the Santa Ana Unified School District, as well as a hotly-debated article by Carla Javier in the LAist, discourse between students on social media, and an overwhelming mobilization of OCSA supporters, this morning the Orange County Board of Education transferred authority over OCSA’s charter from SAUSD to themselves, and did in fact renew it for another five-year term.

In spite of allegations raised against OCSA regarding unfair admissions processes, parent contribution agreements, and appointment and removal of members of the Board of Trustees, three of five members of the board voted to renew OCSA’s charter without conditions (though, those proposed conditions can be found in the meetings minutes on the OCDE’s website). It appears that there won’t be any changes to OCSA’s charter in the immediate future; it’s unclear whether or not admin must/will go forward with the lottery system. The implications of this decision—and of OCDE’s transfer of power—will be fully realized in July, when it goes into effect.