Stony Point Academy in Santa Rosa could be split into two campuses, again

A month after district trustees raised and then backed off the possibility of closing Stony Point Academy in southwest Santa Rosa, the charter school once again is in the spotlight.

Bellevue Union school board members are considering splitting the expanding charter school between two separate campuses over concerns it’s growing too big at its current Meadow View Elementary site. Trustees are expected to decide Tuesday at their regular board meeting what to do with Stony Point Academy, at least for the short term.

District officials say there isn’t enough classroom space on the Meadow View campus for the growing charter school, which serves about 200 students in grades 7 through 11. Stony Point Academy officials expected to have two additional portable classrooms installed there this summer, but school board members last month halted the project after voicing concerns over the encroachment and the portables’ condition. Board president Victor Ayala called the portables “a piece of junk” in an interview.

Even if the board reverses its decision and allows the portables at Meadow View, Superintendent David Alexander said it could take months to accomplish. School starts in four weeks.

“I see no other option right now but to split,” board member Adele Walker said Thursday during a workshop where nearly two dozen staff, faculty, parents and students shared ideas on what to do with the charter school.

A group of teachers and school staff committed to searching for ways to rearrange class schedules to keep all the students on the same campus. They hope to present a proposal to the board Tuesday.

Science teacher Jeff Cogorno, who’s leading the master scheduling at the charter school, is optimistic. But, he added, the district needs to come up with a long-term plan for the school.

“(Students) need some stability,” he said.

The charter school opened at the Bellevue Elementary campus in mid-2013 with just seventh grade and has been adding a grade level each year. The district intended move the school onto a property it purchased north of Meadow View for $300,000, but had to shelve the idea after endangered California tiger salamanders were found on the site.

Jason Galvan, 15, doesn’t want to see the school split again. The charter school used to have its middle schoolers at Bellevue Elementary until it moved all grade levels onto the Meadow View site this past school year. Galvan, who will be a junior this year, said it was difficult for teachers who taught middle and high school grade levels to get to class on time when they were on separate campuses.

Marlen Chavez, also an incoming junior, said she doesn’t want to see their closely knit school split. She’d like to remain on the same campus with her younger sister, who will be going into the eighth grade this fall.

“It’s not just me,” said Chavez, 16.

“Many other classmates have little brothers and sisters (here). If they tear this apart, it’s going to create a rift.”

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 707-521-5458.