NEW SCIENCE ACADEMY APPROVED FOR VALLEY + more

Contra Costa Times[LA Newspaper Group/LA Daily News] from Wire services

Posted online: 06/21/2010 09:12:40 AM PDT - The Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation announced Monday that it has been given the go-ahead to operate a new elementary school serving the San Fernando Valley.

The Magnolia Science Academy was approved by Los Angeles Unified School District after its June 15 meeting, according to the foundation, which runs nine other middle and high schools throughout the state.

"This is a great milestone for us," said Suleyman Bahceci, chief executive of the Magnolia Foundation. "Many of our families in the Valley have been asking for a school for their younger children for a long time. These are families who have limited high quality school choices."

The school, whose curriculum will emphasize math, science and technology, will open this fall, along with Magnolia Science Academy in Bell.

The Magnolia Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization that has been operating charter schools in California since 2002. In 2009, the foundation received a statewide benefit charter from the California State Board of Education to start 10 charter schools across the state over the next six years.

A report by the California Department of Education ranked Magnolia Science Academy in Reseda, the first school established by the Magnolia Foundation, in the top 10 percent of schools in its category in 2010. This year, 42 students will graduate from the school at a ceremony during which LA County Sheriff Leroy Baca will deliver the commencement address.

---

Magnolia to Open First Elementary School in San Fernando Valley

Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation Press Release

LOS ANGELES, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation was given the go-ahead this week to operate a new elementary school serving the San Fernando Valley in Southern California. The unanimous decision to approve the Magnolia Science Academy - 7 (MSA-7) was announced by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) following a board meeting on June 15. This is a significant step for the California-based charter school organization, which runs nine middle and high schools throughout the state.

"This is a great milestone for us," said Suleyman Bahceci, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the Magnolia Foundation. "Many of our families in the Valley have been asking for a school for their younger children for a long time. These are families who have limited high quality school choices."

MSA-7 will provide the same high quality curriculum offered in other Magnolia Schools, with an emphasis on math, science and technology. The school will open this fall, along with Magnolia Science Academy – Bell (MSA-8), a new middle school in the city of Bell approved through an LAUSD Public School Choice Resolution.

The Magnolia Educational and Research Foundation is a non-profit educational organization that has been operating charter schools throughout California since 2002. All its schools have a curriculum focusing on math, science and technology, and provide a high quality education to low-income students from ethnically diverse backgrounds. In 2009, the Magnolia Foundation received a statewide benefit charter from the California State Board of Education (SBE) to start ten charter schools throughout the state over the next six years. The approval was a testament to the foundation's success, as it was only the third time that the SBE granted such permission in California. The first two schools (Pacific Technology School - Orangevale and Pacific Technology School - Santa Ana) opened in Sacramento and Orange County in August 2009.

A report published by the California Department of Education ranked Magnolia Science Academy – Reseda (MSA-1), the first school established by the Magnolia Foundation, in the top ten percent of schools in its category in 2010. This year, 42 students will graduate from the school at a ceremony during which LA County Sheriff Leroy Baca will deliver the commencement address.

 

---

Message From the Chief Executive Officer: “…the unfortunate budget crisis makes it difficult to fully support all of our programs”.

edited from the Magnolia Schools website

Dear Magnolia Schools Family,

Despite Magnolia Schools’ effort to provide quality education for all students, the unfortunate budget crisis makes it difficult to fully support all of our programs.

As of yet, we have not been forced to cut any programs, but without additional support from readers like you, we may have to decrease the number of fun activities like those described above.

Therefore, it is very important for each parent to support Magnolia Schools in whatever way possible during this period of financial stress. Please
keep in mind that even a small donation from each parent can help us retain
these great activities for our students.

It is up to us to take control of our destiny so that we can make an impact on every child at Magnolia Schools. Magnolia will keep working hard to enhance
the current academic success, and our teachers will always continue to educate, challenge, and support your children.

Yours Truly,

Dr. Suleyman Bahceci, CEO

 

●● smf's 2¢: In light of the statement above – and I invite readers to read the whole thing at  http://bit.ly/9gzoNL  - (the ‘fun activities described above’ are a chess tournament and participation in an essay contest that together shouldn't have cost $100!)  the fiscal viability of the organization seems challenged and the wisdom of statewide expansion dubious.

This is a corporate CEO relying on the bake sale money - a business model only LAUSD could love and approve!

RELATED LINKS
http://www.magnoliacharterschools.org/