Caliber Beta Makes Its Case for Renewal as Families Rally

San Pablo charter school Caliber Beta Academy asked the Contra Costa County Board of Education on Sept. 16, 2026, to keep it open through 2032. Petitioners pointed to state data showing the school beating nearby district schools, and every public speaker backed the renewal. The hearing ended without a vote. Trustees will decide in October. They also unanimously approved a $855,922 plan for the county's Juvenile Hall school, where reading gains lagged last year.

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• Caliber Beta seeks a five-year charter renewal through 2032; the decision comes in October
• Six parents, students and staff spoke for Caliber, with no opposition
• Mount McKinley's $855,922 school plan approved 7-0; average reading growth was only 0.6 months
• Golden Gate charter bets $738,831 on a new coordinator to lift 68% attendance

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Caliber Beta Pitches Renewal Through 2032

1 big thing: The county board authorizes Caliber Beta Academy, so trustees alone decide whether the San Pablo school keeps operating after its term ends June 30, 2027.

The basics: The county board approved the charter on appeal in 2013. The school opened in 2014 inside West Contra Costa Unified and was reauthorized in 2018. Post-pandemic legislation added three years to its term. State law requires a public hearing within 60 days of receiving a renewal petition. Caliber filed on July 20.

Why it matters: The October vote affects hundreds of West Contra Costa families. It will also set the tone for the next renewal in line, Summit K-2.

Where things stand: County staff said the school qualifies for the longest renewal available. "Based on the recent California School Dashboard results, Caliber Beta Academy has been determined to be in the middle performance category," said McChesney of the Contra Costa County Office of Education.

Terrence Johnson, CEO and lead petitioner, Caliber Public Schools, asked for the same enrollment cap. "We're confident that Beta Academy has met the criteria for a five-year renewal through 2032," Johnson said.

Alicia Spurr, 5th through 8th grade Principal, built the case around the renewal questions in AB 1505, the state's charter renewal criteria. She made four main points:
- The school outperformed the median of 19 comparison schools on every dashboard indicator in 2024 and 2025.
- Students met iReady and DIBELS growth targets across grades and subgroups.
- Students get intervention blocks twice a day.
- Every grade has a waitlist.

Principal LaShonda Cain said the school's Hispanic/Latino, Black, low-income and English learner students all beat their statewide peers in math. She also pointed to on-site behavior specialists, mental health clinicians and a permanent campus built with the school district through the Prop 51 bond program.

The other side: No one opposed the renewal, but Trustee Annette Lewis questioned how the school picked its comparison schools. "You mentioned that you had comparison schools of 19, and it looks like there's 33 elementary schools within West Contra," Lewis said. A member of the petitioner team said the schools were chosen based on where students live but could not name them. McChesney later answered: "Page 34 of the petition lists all of the comparison schools in West Contra Costa that Caliber offers."

Another trustee asked about the school's top ranking in science. "We have not minimized the science, the time in science that our students are having in 5th through 8th grade," Spurr said. She also credited the Amplify curriculum and teacher coaching. Petitioners said the waitlist exists because the school is at its enrollment cap plus 10%, not because it lacks staff.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Six speakers supported the renewal:
- Zaria Harper, an instructional coach, described rising from paraprofessional to coach.
- Nayeli, a parent of a student with an individualized education program (IEP), praised the special education team for responding quickly.
- Vincent, a parent, described his daughter's growth in confidence and leadership.
- Emiliano Hernandez, a 4th grader, praised his teachers and the choir program.
- Giselle Maldonado, a 5th grader, credited staff with helping her exit English language development classes.
- Zenida Minero, a parent speaking in Spanish, credited speech therapy with her daughter's progress.

The turnout reflects an organized parent base focused on special education and English learners. No action was taken.

What's next: Staff asked trustees to submit written questions by Sept. 17. The staff report goes public Sept. 29, and the decision hearing is in October.

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Juvenile Hall School Plan Approved as Reading Gains Lag

Why it matters: Mount McKinley School educates middle school, high school and post-high school students held in Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall. Every student qualifies for Title I, the federal aid program for low-income students. The newly approved plan is the school's roadmap for serving them.

Where things stand: Principal Brian Murtaugh reported:
- Average daily enrollment rose to 61, up from 42 in 2024-25.
- The school served 278 students last year.
- The graduation rate was 56%, short of a 75% target.
- The school has not suspended a student since July 1, 2022.

The plan, known as a Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), budgets $855,922, including rolled-over funds. It pays for instructional assistants, career technical education, dual enrollment and trauma-informed support.

Reading intervention is the weak spot. Seventy students received it last year. The share showing growth rose from 33% to 51% between the third and fourth quarters. Still, "they made an average reading growth of 0.6 months of a whole school year," Murtaugh said. He blamed vacancies among instructional assistants and new staff. This year's goal is reading gains for 90% of enrolled students.

The other side: Trustee Mike Maxwell pressed for context. "So turn it around, and what is the average length of stay?" he asked. "I don't have that right here with me, but I know I can get that," Murtaugh replied.

Board President Sarah Butler asked whether anything was keeping the school from providing enough intervention. "I'd say for the most part, we don't have a lot of students refusing the intervention," Murtaugh said. He added that book clubs have started.

Trustee Daniel Nathan-Heiss praised a college public speaking class offered through Merritt College. Murtaugh said English courses are planned. Another trustee asked about subtitles on facility TVs, and Murtaugh said that decision belongs to the probation department.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The plan passed on a Nathan-Heiss/Lewis motion (For: 7, Against: 0, Absent: 0). The funding supports students in custody. Trustees signaled they will watch whether filling staff vacancies turns into real reading gains.

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Golden Gate Bets on New Coordinator

Why it matters: Golden Gate Community Charter School serves students who were expelled or referred by youth services. Its outcomes remain far below its targets.

Where things stand: "Our attendance rate was 68%. Our target is 82%," said Principal Ricky Mendoza. He also reported:
- 66% chronic absenteeism
- A 45% graduation rate for the four- and five-year cohort
- 26% of students reporting harassment or bullying, against a goal of 14% or less

The $738,831 plan draws on federal Title I and Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) funds. Its centerpiece is a full-time teacher on special assignment. That coordinator will run the school's multi-tiered student support system (MTSS), coach teachers and track graduation progress.

Matt Wayne, Assistant Superintendent of Student Programs and Services, said the item was information only because "Golden Gate is a dependent charter school, and so it has its own governing body that approves the SPSA."

The other side: Trustee Yazmin Llamas visited the campus the day before and saw isolated, disengaged students. "Have these kids ever had a childhood?" she asked. She urged low-cost play, such as giving students bubbles during breaks. Mendoza said he would consult student focus groups.

An official explained that attendance fell after the school shifted to independent study. There, attendance is measured by work completed, not time spent in a classroom.

What's next: No action was required.

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Minor Items

• Five resolutions passed unanimously (7-0): Filipino American History Month, Disability Awareness Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Suicide Prevention Month and Clean Air Day.
• Teacher contract talks reopen: The county office and CCCSEA/CTA/NEA posted opening bargaining proposals on salaries, benefits, hours and jail education. The union added class size and leaves. Both return next month.
• Two charters present goals: Invictus Academy of Richmond, with 374 students, is adopting Illustrative Math. Richmond Charter Academy invited trustees to Coffee with Admin on Oct. 8.
• Student members' reports: They mourned two Liberty High students killed Sept. 13 and reported threats at two high schools that police deemed not credible.
• Area 2 candidate speaks: Pamela West, a former Orinda Union School District trustee, announced her run for Butler's seat in the Nov. 3 election.

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Looking Ahead

The board meets next on Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. That month brings the Caliber decision and Summit K-2's public hearing; trustees' written questions on Summit are due Oct. 22. Trustee Nathan-Heiss asked for a future discussion of the board's Zoom-versus-in-person meeting policy and its evaluation procedures for interdistrict transfer appeals.