LWIP parents being asked to sign the charter petition virtually sight unseen

Yesterday, April 12th, an email (reprinted below) was sent to all LWIP parents urging us to show up at a three hour meeting tomorrow to sign the charter petition. It is puzzling why after working on the petition for many months we are being told to hurry up and sign it on a Saturday afternoon during Spring break only four days before it appears on the school board agenda this Tuesday. Even the much shorter US constitution took nearly six months to be printed, read, debated and ratified. We are getting 3 hours.

I hope this announcement will give pause to my fellow LWIP parents. All we have been shown is a single printed draft circulated at the last April 5th Parent Council meeting (which I was unable to attend). I was told that the petition is estimated to be more than 100 pages long. I have asked to see this and other relevant documents but have been denied several times.

Effectively we are being asked to sign a petition virtually sight unseen. Who signs anything so important, so critical to their own child's education without even being able to read, analyze, and discuss it? This is an extremely worrisome preview to the way these same self-selected parents plan to run the proposed charter school. Not only has this process been completely un-transparent but it should be evaluated by the Marin County District Attorney to determine if it has been done in violation of the Brown Act which sets strict Open Meeting rules for public agencies and related committees.

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On 4/12/12 9:06 PM, Greg Brown/Jen Rousseau wrote:

Begin forwarded message:

From: Sophie Clark <philosophierose@gmail.com>

Date: April 12, 2012 3:06:55 PM PDT

To: JenGreg2000@gmail.com

Subject: Please Forward: [LWIP] Charter Signing Potluck this Saturday, April 14th (12-3pm)

Jen please forward: if you can make the subject look more flashy and important please do!!!!

Attention LWIP Families!!!!!

The Time has come to Celebrate and Sign the Charter Petition!!!!!!

Come this Saturday, April 14th 2012

noon to 3pm

Upper Campus, Room 2 of the LWIP

Bring a dish, drinks, etc. to share and your own dishes and utensils

Be there and enjoy!

P.S. Your attendance is much appreciated and will make collecting the signatures for the Petition efficient. Remember the Petition goes on April 17th. So no time to waste.