Design Tech High School is a new charter school partnering with the Stanford Institute of Design “to make a diverse group of students into innovators who will create the future.” The charter petition was approved by the district in November 2013. Leaders of the initiative have since been working on the specific aspects of planning the charter school.
Design Tech is currently working with San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) to determine a location. Nicole Cerra, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Design Tech, says, “Right now we are working with the district office to determine our location. We are currently exploring the idea of co-locating on the Mills High School campus or using a space on the College of San Mateo campus.”
Given that SMUHSD already includes nine other schools, the means of funding is inevitably a concern. With regard to the latter, Cerra says, “Like most other public schools, we will get the majority of our funding directly from the state. That funding comes in the form of a per pupil allocation—a specific amount of money for each student that attends the school.”
She continues, “We have also received a few grants and will continue to apply for more grants to help alleviate the start-up costs of opening the school. We plan to be fully sustainable on the public dollar. In other words, no need for grants by year five.”
Funding of the school is not solely limited to its construction, for the continuous process extends to prospective teachers as well. Executive Director Ken Montgomery says, “We have budgeted for an average teacher salary of $70,000.”
Recently, Design Tech has heard from a large amount of prospective students and parents. Cerra says, “We have a lot of interest from the community. Our information sessions are generally full and we have a steady stream of applicants each day.”
As for how Design Tech is different from other schools, Montgomery remarks, “Much of the content will be the same; it will just be delivered differently. Physics is still Physics. The biggest difference is that all students will learn design thinking.”
Design thinking is centered around the idea of creative confidence and making an impact on the world.
Attending information sessions is not the only way to learn more about the school, as information on the mission, curriculum, and application materials for the school is on its website. Though the school is open to all, applications are used to keep class sizes small—the incoming freshman class is expected to have 150 students. Should they receive more than 150 applicants, Design Tech will use a lottery system to choose students.
Among the crucial specifics being discussed, finding teachers for the progressive curriculum is a top priority. Cerra says, “We are currently talking with several candidates from each discipline. We would like to finalize most hiring decisions by mid-to-late March.”
Though the school is part of the district, Associate Superintendent Dr. Andy Parsons says, “The district does not facilitate the hiring. Design Tech is a charter school and is independent in most ways from decision making at the district level.”
Applicant yield is vital to Design Tech’s success. As such, Cerra remarks, “We continue to work hard to get the word out about us.”
Parents and students should go to the SMUHSD website’s home page. Under Information for Design Tech, there is a link to District Staff and Analyst Report. It mentions the charter will try to hire teachers at a starting salary below that of the 6 high schools. Also, there are questions whether the budget presented is enough to provide the program promised. There is no Fab Lab at Mills. The 5 classrooms for Dtecth are configured in traditional layout as Mills is a high performing traditional school. I am a parent at Mills that support the concept of charter schools to help under-performing schools and districts. Why are we sacrificing a school that is not under-performing? I like the other 300 parents who attend the May 8th board meeting feel blindsided by the School District and Design Tech for no discussions or vetting before the decision was made. The PTO was informed April 24th that Dtech will be starting in the fall.