Guest Commentary: County School Board President Wonders if 'Rocketship Vote a Game-Changer?'

Joe DiSalvo is president of the Santa Clara County Board of Education. He also  writes a weekly blog for San Jose Inside, an online publication dedicated to ”encouraging political debate," in San Jose.
On the eve of an important vote about the future of  Rocketship Education, charter schools and blended learning in the heart of Silicon Valley, DiSalvo posted this on the SJ Inside blog.
"I wonder if the growing presence of high quality charter schools in Santa Clara County will serve as the revolution for eliminating the achievement gap. Will innovative means of learning be the norm? Is the timing right for a revolution in our public school system in Santa Clara County? Will the status quo prevail? Or, can change be the only constant now?
"We will know answers to some of these questions after the Santa Clara County Office of Education board meeting this week," he continued.
"On Wednesday, Nov. 16, sometime after 6:30 p.m., the Board of Trustees will vote on petitions to authorize (or not) Rocketship Schools 6, 7, and 8—all potentially opening in August 2012.
"Also on Wednesday’s agenda, the county board will hold a mandatory public hearing on 20 additional Rocketship Countywide Charter Schools to open in San Jose and Santa Clara County over the next four years. If all receive approval, Rocketship will have 28 total charter schools in the county and approximately 15,000 K-5 grade students," DiSalvo added.
Click here to read DiSalvo's views on the behind-the-scene maneuvering before the vote.
Check back with Liberating Learning. We'll keep you updated on the Rocketship Ed vote.