Panama Buena Vista School District approves new charter school
Earlier in the year, the Panama Buena Vista Union School District received a petition from Willie J. Frink College Prep to establish a charter school. On Tuesday, August 8, the PBVUSD Board of Trustees approved the new Southwest Bakersfield charter school. Residents in support of establishing the Willie J. Frink College Prep Charter School celebrated the board's decision, while others voiced concerns about what this will mean for local kids and their educational options. 23ABC's Breanna Polk attended the meeting to find out more.
Transcript
00:00 Tonight, the Board of Trustees for the Buena Vista Union School District green-lighted
00:03 the new charter school, Willie J. Frink College Prep.
00:07 The petition for the Southwest Bakersfield School was submitted earlier this year.
00:11 Here's 23 ABC's Briana Polk with more about the board's decision and what those opposed
00:15 to the charter school had to say.
00:18 The Willie J. Frink College Prep Charter School has officially been given the green light.
00:23 Those in support of establishing this new school are celebrating Tuesday night's decision
00:27 by the board.
00:28 While others voiced concerns about what this would mean for local kids and their educational
00:32 options.
00:33 "It's such a relief to know that the families will be able to have a school that they've
00:41 asked for, that we will be able to partner with the district.
00:44 I feel very happy.
00:46 I feel very relieved.
00:47 I feel very proud.
00:48 This is about the children."
00:50 Arlena Waller is a founder of Willie J. Frink College Prep and has been working toward
00:55 this goal for years now.
00:57 She says she is now the first person to get an approval for a charter school in this district.
01:02 During Tuesday's meeting, other members of the community who were opposed to this vote
01:06 expressed their thoughts about the petition.
01:09 "Although this petition claims to be the panacea for the educational gateway of our
01:15 African American students, a charter school must not be a solution that creates isolation.
01:22 Isolation and segregation does not provide the answers."
01:26 President of the Panama Buena Vista Union School District, Brian Easter, says although
01:30 the petition was approved, what he calls the real work of education professionals impacting
01:35 the lives of students truly begins at the start of the school year.
01:40 "That's when the babies show up and that's when you make it happen.
01:43 As teachers, as principals, as district leadership.
01:46 There's already been a lot of work, but the real work starts after this because the plan
01:50 is put in place and then you've got to get going."
01:53 And members of the board say going forward, this petition is going to be a collaborative
01:57 effort between the Panama Buena Vista Union School District and the Willie J. Frink College
02:02 Prep.
02:03 In Southwest Bakersfield, I'm Breanna Polk, 23ABC News, connecting you.