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Wildflower and Blue Oak present charter-renewal plans; parents press board on disability access
Summary
Two charter schools seeking renewal described student‑centered, nature‑based and Waldorf-inspired programs; during public comment parents and advocates urged the district to require charters taking public funds to guarantee access and supports for students with disabilities.
Wildflower Open Classroom and Blue Oak Charter Council presented charter renewal updates to the Chico Unified board on Thursday, highlighting small multiage classes, integrated thematic learning and outdoor education programs.
Tom Hicks, director of Wildflower, told trustees the school has rebounded from pandemic enrollment declines and currently serves about 187 students with plans to grow to 210. Hicks described a menu of programs including an on-site meal program begun in 2022, a 4-school transitional kindergarten established in 2024 and regular "forest days" that immerse classes in Bidwell Park for full-day outdoor learning.
"At Wildflower, our mission is to be an innovative and progressive school," Hicks said, summarizing the school's open‑classroom approach and recent curriculum work. (Tom Hicks, director, Wildflower Open Classroom.)
Blue Oak board chair Vicky Wanakott introduced the school's Waldorf-inspired approach and new executive director Tim Drury, who said he had been on the job only days but was confident in the school's leaders and parents. Teachers and alumni described arts-integrated curriculum, seasonal festivals, looping of teachers and multi-day field trips as strengths.
During the public hearing that followed, Julia (public commenter) said her child has a disability and asserted that the charter schools are effectively denying access to children with disabilities despite receiving public funds. "If Chico Unified is funding these schools, my child should have equal access," she said, and urged the board to ask whether charters are meeting legal obligations for inclusion. (Julia, parent.)
Other speakers at the public hearing echoed the call for explicit, enforceable expectations in charter renewal decisions to ensure students with disabilities are served. A Blue Oak speaker and a kindergarten parent said charters do accept some students with disabilities but emphasized capacity and funding constraints.
The presentations were informational; the board will review full petitions and Ed Services’ recommendations at a future meeting when renewal decisions are scheduled.
