Board schedules follow-up after hourslong hearing on Oceanlight countywide charter petition

The San Mateo County Board of Education convened Oct. 22, 2025, for a public hearing on the Oceanlight School countywide benefit charter petition and heard detailed presentations from the petitioners, district officials and dozens of members of the public. Board President Hugo Torres called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m., and the hearing on the petition occupied the majority of the evening.

Oceanlight petitioners (Dr. Kelly Mendoza, Don Burdette, LiLing Pang and Jennifer Hsu) presented their proposal for a TK–8, countywide model intended to expand into Daly City, South San Francisco and San Bruno after an initial site in Pacifica. Multiple districts — including Pacifica, Bayshore, Brisbane, Burlingame and South San Francisco — submitted responses or presented concerns about enrollment impacts and student services. Deputy Superintendent Marco Chávez told the board staff were completing a detailed review and would return with a comparative analysis of program elements the board requested.

The hearing included extensive public comment: staff reported written submissions from parents and community members, and about 50–60 individuals spoke live in favor or opposition. Supporters included parents, students and founding teachers; opposition came from some district leaders and labor representatives, including the San Bruno Education Foundation, the California Teachers Association and a labor relations representative who spoke against the petition. The Board did not take final action on the petition and instead scheduled a capacity interview for Oct. 30 to answer outstanding questions and receive additional documents.