Threat to close New School a blatant abuse of power

The plight of The New School versus the DPLU raises some questions that aren’t being asked by reporters. Are our taxpayer dollars really going to be used by the county to close a public school with the highest ranking academic performance index (915) of all public schools in inland North County over a zoning issue?

County Supervisors, including our own Bill Horn, think local wineries should be exempt from the “burdensome regulations of a major use permit,” but The New School is to be the first public school in California history required to obtain said permit?

Ivan Hollar’s contention that the school should be regarded as a “private school” because it is located out of district is ludicrous. Locating out of district clearly was a necessity, not a choice.

Just who is Ivan Hollar, and why does he think he can wave a magic wand, pronounce “private school” and erase the identity and rights of this public institution in the process? Is this really a land use issue or politics? Playing games with facilities and zoning to close a highly successful charter school that threatens the status quo and embarrasses surrounding districts seems more likely. Does anyone care that a blatant abuse of power is looming over this school unchecked?

Lana Janey