[Source: The Santa Clarita Valley Signal]
[Source: The Santa Clarita Valley Signal]
The 2016-2017 school year didn’t begin with a bright start when the principal, Mr. Gika, left the campus due to his personal issues; however, everyone believed they could still achieve another fruitful and successful year, which might have been too optimistic. Blinded by that optimism, students and teachers, couldn’t escape their shock as they received blow after blow like the waves of a tsunami, sudden and unexpected. Hopes were eventually crashed, not once, but three times through the process of applying and repealing for charter renewal.
Albert Einstein Academy’s contract was coming to an end with the Hart District in 2017 and needed to be renewed and that was the first duty of the new principal Dr. Mcdonnell. Ruthlessly, the request for a new charter contract was denied. Additionally, according to Carissa Blasquez and many other students in attendance at the appeal meeting, the Hart District Representatives were “breaking down on the financial facts and criticizing the beneficial practices” very harshly. They added that the representatives were being “awful” and “single-minded” because they refused to look at the positive benefits Albert Einstein Academy offers. Their denial showed selfishness rather than altruism and the students are the ones to suffer for their choice.
This was the beginning of Albert Einstein Academy’s period of disturbance as the tension just kept growing. When the students were supposed to be focusing on studying and preparing for their AP tests in the spring, instead they were worrying about their school. Frequently, students asked each other what they would do if their school closed down.
After being denied from the Hart District, the school applied for charter at Lacoe District, but unfortunately was denied yet again. This is all despite the great progress the school has made within the last seven years. After these two District denials, Carissa Blasquez and everyone involved with Albert Einstein Academy spoke out at every meeting of “biases against the charter school”. With two rejections and only one appeal remaining, a very tough decision had to be made: to move or to stay. After all the dust settled, an email was delivered to all students and parents stating that the injunction for the court for fundings will most likely not go through and that Albert Einstein Academy would have to close its doors.
It is very unfortunate that Albert Einstein Academy, the educational home to many students will no longer be open to welcome students in the fall. Students who attended this school will also now be lost in the abyss of misery as they begin new lives in unfamiliar settings in August at no choice of their own.
Despite all of the ups and downs, Albert Einstein Academy was a special school and had a uniqueness to it that is uncomparable anywhere else. No matter the circumstances, Albert Einstein Academy will always remain in people’s hearts and especially their memories as a wonderful place with wonderful teachers and wonderful students.
