Beacon Classical Academy is nearing its first month of operation with 150 students enrolled in the K- 8 charter school. A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled that the school could operate at its current location.
The National School District filed an injunction on July 25 alleging that Julian Union School District illegally placed Beacon school at 2400 Euclid Ave., a site that is also home to South Bay Community Church.
Officials for the National School District said they couldn’t comment for this story because of pending litigation.
However, in court records the National School District contends the Julian Union School District violated several California education codes by stating that it did not follow the law when it placed the school in National City.
The Julian Union School District administers Beacon Classical Academy, a K-8 school.
Chris Carson, assistant superintendent of business for the National School District, previously told The Star-News that the National School District was supposed to be given notice of Beacon’s intent to locate within the National School District’s boundaries, which he said the Julian Union School District failed to do.
“We want them to adhere to the same rules as any district,” Carson said. “We ask that the Julian school district revoke their charter on the grounds that they are violating the education code in the charter petition,” he said in an Aug. 9 article.
Judge Richard Strauss said preventing Beacon from opening would have denied parents’ educational options for their children.
Alma Van Nice, Ed.D., founder and executive director of Beacon school, said the judge made the right decision.
“The judge ruled in our favor because we aren’t breaking any laws,” she said.
Van Nice maintained that Beacon isn’t in violation of any educational code because Beacon is an independent charter school, therefore it doesn’t have to adhere to the same rules as a charter.
She said an independent charter is also referred to as a non-classroom-based school, which provides instruction in the child’s home or at school.
“We are an independent study charter and our students are not mandated to attend,” she said. “The parents chose to bring their children and to participate in the education of their children whether it’s going to be as home study or home schooled.”
Van Nice said ultimately National School District’s claim has to do with money. She said that the National School District fears it may lose some of its children to the charter school which would result in less money for the National School District.
“Bottom line: it comes down to money,” she said.
Van Nice said some students at Beacon are students who come from the National School District but many others she said come from outside the area.
A motion hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16.
