Parents launch last-ditch effort to save charter school north of Sacramento from budget cuts

Parents and students have held weekly meetings on Zoom discussing how they can save a small charter north of Sacramento charter school that has a great reputation among its alumni and current families.

The Elverta Joint Elementary School District has announced Alpha Charter High School will close at the end of the academic year due to a lack of funding and low enrollment. It’s putting the small school district in the red, officials say.

Alpha Charter parents and students aren’t giving up. They believe the decision could be reversed if they can show they have a path to financial sustainability. They’re working to raise $250,000 to keep the school open.

Alpha Charter supporters have started a GoFundMe campaign – in addition to reaching out to foundations and organizations. They launched a website, too, savealphacharter.com.

Parents and students – even staff – refer to Alpha Charter as a “best kept secret” and have asked communities to rally together in support of the students and their futures.

“We’re looking for any help that we can obtain from philanthropy, foundations, anyone that obviously cares about having a school that is diverse and serves this type of community,” said Christian Romero, another parent of Alpha Charter. “This school creates leaders and great people.”

Parents say Alpha Charter nurtured an atmosphere in which all students could learn, grow and feel accepted. They pointed to a number of graduates succeeding in college to make their case.

“The school is so unique, I feel like there’s none out there that are like (Alpha),” said Alpha Charter parent LaToya Bufford. “It’s just shocking that they weren’t able to come to a different resolution.”

District says school is on a ‘decline’

Elverta Joint Elementary School District Superintendent Michael Wells said the decision to close the school was “not made lightly” as many students have benefited from the program offered by Alpha Charter.

“I believe that it was the only responsible option the board could take at this time given the significant and untenable financial strain that the charter is putting on the school district as a whole given its declining and record low enrollment and average daily attendance,” said Wells.

Wells added the board took the action that was “necessary” and in the “best interest” of all students and staff in the Elverta school community.

According to the district budget specialist, the district is deficient by $329,000, most of it coming from the $220,000 invested in Alpha Charter to fund teachers, facilitators, and coaches through the 2022 school year.

The student experience at Alpha

Through magnet programs, Alpha Charter works to help students excel in academics, music, and sports. Programs such as Young Mogul Program by the EDUtainment Pros, California Comets softball, or Jerry Manuel Foundation baseball have contributed to the success of Alpha Charter students.

Jaxon Byrd, a senior at Alpha Charter, credits the school for his success in gaining admission into college.

“All my success, getting my scholarship, I credit that to being at Alpha (Charter) with the Jerry Manuel Foundation and the educational side,” said Byrd. “They’ve helped me the whole time. So, I’m pushing for (Alpha Charter) to stay open. Hopefully it can.”

Madison Glenn has been at Alpha Charter since she was in the eighth grade. Now a junior, and on the softball team, she said Alpha has been a major influence in helping her growth.

“Alpha has (meant) more (to me) than just athletic wise, the school taught me maturity, responsibility and has made me more determined to achieve my life goals, which is to play college softball and be something important in life,” said Glenn.

Students said “family” best describes the environment at the charter school, more so than other schools they’ve attended.

“Public schools have bullying, heinous acts,” said Glenn, in comparison to her previous schools. “This is not the case at Alpha. There’s no violence, no bad acts. It’s nothing but joy and all of us support each other.”

Jordyan Grays graduated from Alpha Charter in 2020 as valedictorian, and two years later, she said she was astounded to find out the school was on the verge of closure.

“I pray that people reconsider and don’t shut Alpha Charter down. There are kids from areas far and near who have and would benefit from just being at Alpha. I would not be where I am today if it was not for Alpha,” she said.

Grays, majoring in biology at Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black college in Charlotte, is looking to become a zoologist.

What is Alpha Charter?

Alpha Charter High School is a charter school, located at 8920 Elwyn Ave., in Elverta.

It partnered with GradPoint which is designed to allow students to work at their own pace, receive immediate tutoring, participate in small group instruction, and receive individualized support.

Alpha Charter is a site-based program, established in 2013, that aims for a 100% graduation rate with 90% of students continuing to post-secondary educational institutions.

The school’s slogan is “a strong foundation and inspired traditions” because they offer students an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop academic skills in addition to personal, professional and social responsibility.

This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 3:00 AM.