Supporters urge board to renew Summit Preparatory charter; district schedules decision for Nov. 13

The Sequoia Union High School District board opened and closed a public hearing on Oct. 9 to receive community comment on the five‑year renewal petition for Summit Preparatory Charter High School.

Teachers, alumni, parents and students gave consecutive testimonials in support of the renewal petition. Chris Kelly, a longtime Summit teacher, called the school’s model "a leadership mindset that consistently puts young people at the center" and urged trustees to renew the charter. Student speakers described the mentorship program and expedition curriculum as transformative; one student said Summit had helped them discover career interests they would not have found in a traditional high school.

Summit Prep’s executive director presented a slide deck and a short video highlighting the school’s mentorship model, expedition program and measured outcomes. The presenter said the school has been educating local students for more than 20 years and cited a statistic that 92% of alumni are “currently working or in school.” The director emphasized Summit’s small size, mentorship continuity (students keep the same mentor through high school) and project‑based curriculum as core reasons to renew the charter.

After public comment and the presentation, the board closed the hearing and set a follow‑up meeting for Nov. 13 to finish the renewal review and take any vote. Trustees asked for submitted materials and binders from Summit Prep; no renewal vote was taken Oct. 9.

Several community partners, including the Boys & Girls Club, testified about program partnerships (expeditions and enrichment), and multiple families described improved outcomes for students with special needs or individualized learning plans.

The public hearing is an information‑gathering step required by state education code; district staff will continue their evaluation and bring the item back to the board on the scheduled date.