After denial by MPUSD, Big Sur Charter School becomes a countywide charter school.

The Monterey County Office of Education board voted 6-0 to approve Big Sur Charter School’s petition to become a countywide charter school. (Trustee Mary Claypool abstained.)

The June 10 decision by MCOE happened a day after the board of Monterey Peninsula Unified School District denied the school’s request for a five-year charter renewal, citing concerns about a lack of diversity among the student population and the absence of a plan in its petition to address this issue. The MPUSD board voted against district staff’s recommendation based on Big Sur Charter’s “high-performing status” since it has success outcomes.

“This should have been approved last night,” MCOE Trustee John McPherson said in moving to approve the countywide petition. “It makes the best sense to have it organized in a way that gives us the best opportunity to be successful going forward.”

The school, which serves transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, has been around since 2008. It offers a hybrid educational program, providing in-person instruction and home-based assignments. “They do have a unique model. They are the only one that currently runs the hybrid model,” Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Deneen Guss said.

A countywide petition has the advantage of not having geographical limitations. It can move to a different location within the county boundaries and can accept students from the entire county, not just within MPUSD.

The charter was set to expire on June 30. MPUSD’s denial left Big Sur Charter with two options: appeal to MCOE, or seek a countywide charter from MCOE.