Board approves Stallworth renewal; KIPP renewal approved but University Park high‑school site set for separate consideration

The Stockton Unified School District board approved a five‑year renewal for Dr. Louis D. Stallworth Charter School after district staff presented a written evaluation that noted low overall academic performance but cited modest improvements and a comprehensive written response from the charter addressing deficiencies. The staff recommended renewal with oversight and monitoring; the board voted to renew the charter 5–0 with two abstentions recorded for Clerk Martin and Vice President Priest.

In a separate and closely watched item, the board voted to approve the renewal petition submitted by KIPP Stockton for a five‑year term but excluded consideration of specific unapproved sites, including the University Park high‑school address that KIPP seeks to add. District staff argued the University Park site should have been submitted as a material revision and processed under district guidelines and state law; KIPP maintained the location falls within zones the district approved in its original charter and that the renewal merely fills in previously unspecified address details.

Why it matters: Charter renewals determine whether an independently operated school continues to operate under district authorization and with what conditions. The KIPP item drew substantial public testimony — dozens of parents, students, community leaders and local developers — both supporting the charter and urging the board to approve the high‑school address, and others opposing expansion near the district’s Health Careers Academy.

What the board decided: - Stallworth Charter: Renewed for five years beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. The staff report cited the need for strengthened supports for English learners and students with disabilities; Stallworth provided a written response and plan that staff said could be addressed through oversight and an MOU. - KIPP Stockton: The board approved the KIPP K‑12 renewal while directing staff to withhold approval of any new sites (including the University Park address) that were not expressly authorized; the board held a separate public hearing on the KIPP Stockton High School petition (University Park) and took public input but did not take final action on the high‑school petition at this meeting.

Quotes and exchanges: Laura Knight, managing director of KIPP Stockton, said the charter’s renewal "fills in the address details" and that KIPP has identified a University Park site that "is within the board‑approved location of Zone B." District counsel Leslie Locker said state education code requires a material revision for additional sites and that the district staff cannot treat unspecified new permanent sites as already authorized.

Next steps: The University Park high‑school petition remains under review; the board will consider the separate 9–12 petition in a future action after the public hearing record is complete.