NBEF Timeline

1. NBEF Timeline NBEF and their efforts to start a charter are a reaction to changes at Rancho and the closing of Hill Middle School. The effort is not based on a sincere desire to close the achievement gap nor to provide a meaningful alternative for all NUSD students. Novato should expect NBEF to attempt to place supporters on NUSD Board in the November elections.

2. The NBEF Timeline • 6/2/11 The name “Rancho Charter School ” is officially incorporated by NBEF founder Robert Verhoeff. • 5/12 Rancho is given small “compromise” boundaries and attendance preference for neighborhood kids • 10/7/11MJ Lonson states at PTA meeting she had been asked to do a budget presentation to Rancho teachers “When you do this with a charter there is secrecy and you don’t do that at an open forum.” • 12/18/12 NBEF Charter is denied 7-0 by NUSD. NBEF decides not to appeal to County Office of Ed. For approval. • 1/11/11 NUSD votes to close Hill Middle School. NBEF founder Robert Verhoeff lobbies NUSD to “keep Rancho’s ‘specialized’ status”. 9/10/11 The Secret charter petition being circulated by a few parents at Rancho is exposed in Novato Patch article. Online public debate ensues. • 10/25/11 NUSD ”Boundary Study” begins the process of changing attendance boundaries for all schools, including Rancho. Demographic, facility, and student transfer information is made available. • 6/12 NBEF holds public meeting to introduce effort to open a new Charter School in NUSD. NBEF is incorporated the following week. 2011 2012 2013 • 6/11 to 9/11 A select group of parents circulate a secret petition around Rancho to create a charter school, specifically excluding certain parents currently attending the school. • 1/6/12 NBEF founder MJ Lonson announces at a meeting of all Novato PTAs there is “nothing new to report” on the charter effort (despite her having registered for an upcoming charter school conference) • 10/12 NBEF Petition accidentally includes the phrase “Rancho Charter School • 9/20/11 The Secret Charter petition does not gain sufficient support among staff and parents. It is stated publicly that the Charter is tabled “at this time”. • 3/12 MJ Lonson and NBEF founders attend CA. Charter Assoc. annual Conference • 5/18/11 First reading of NUSD Enrolment Policy 5116, changing Rancho enrollment to a more fair and equitable process. All schools will operate under this revised policy. The Tour requirement is dropped. • 9/21/11 NBEF founder, MJ Lonson is quoted in the IJ. The charter effort “picked up steam last spring in light of budget cuts, the closure of Hill Middle School and recent changes to Rancho’s enrollment policy. Its not just for schools that are low performing”