Charter School Renewal Approved in Baldwin Park

The Board of Education of the approved this week a contract extension for a Charter High School, in spite of criticism voiced by one of its members.

With four votes in favor and one against, the "Opportunities for Learning 2" charter school, which focuses on at-risk and homeless youths, will continue to operate for five more years.

School Board member Hugo Tzec was the sole voter against the measure.

Tzec had expressed concerns about the school due to an audit done in 2006 that showed many irregularities and also for the low number of city students that benefited from the program.

Some of the irregularities found in the audit included poor fiscal handling, extravagant expenses, meetings in luxury hotels and excessive salaries for administrators.

"My biggest problem is with the people who manage this school", said Tzec. "There is also a very low percentage of students from Baldwin Park that are benefited by this," he added.

The Charter School is a study program with eight locations in Southern California, including one in Irwindale (the closest to Baldwin Park), for students who wish to complete their high school education.

According to statements made by William Toomey, Vice superintendent at "Opportunities for Learning", to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the charges of supposed improper fiscal handling are being appealed as invalid.

Other members of the district had expresses their support for the school due to the benefits it offered to almost 290 from the BPUSD that attend the institution.

The Charter School has almost 2,600 full-time students.

With the contract renewal approved for the school, it will continue to operate for five more years.

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