Despite requesting the use of Saugus Union School District facilities in November, Albert Einstein Academy refused the district’s offer on Monday.

Albert Einstein Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences refused an offer of space by the Saugus Union School District Monday, which would have allowed the charter school to co-locate at Rio Vista Elementary School.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

AEA requested the district to provide them space on Nov. 1, under Proposition 39.

The California law, passed in 2000, requires school districts to give charter schools “equal access to district facilities, if charters are able to meet certain eligibility requirements,” according to the California Charter Schools Association website.

“When you have 80 or more children in a district that a charter school is providing services to, then they can request space,” said Joan Lucid, Saugus District superintendent.

Saugus District staff presented a draft proposal to AEA in February and the final offer of space in March.

This Charter Facilities Use Agreement would have been put to the district board for a vote on Tuesday, if AEA had not voluntarily declined the offer.

Officials for the charter school did not give a reason for declining, Lucid said.

AEA currently holds a K-8 charter in the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District, where it operates two campuses, according to their website.

In March, the Santa Clarita Planning Commission denied the charter school’s plan to create a secondary school site along Rye Canyon Road, citing concerns that a school would generate too much traffic in the industrial park.

Related Article: Einstein Academy Denied Approval For Valencia Site By Santa Clarita Planners

As of March, AEA was also in escrow for the former Pinecrest School campus, which would meet needs for additional K-6 space, said AEA Executive Director Jeff Shapiro at the time.

Shapiro could not be reached for comment as of 2:30 p.m. Monday.

For more information about Albert Einstein Academy, click here.

View current and past Saugus Union School District board agendas, here.

Perry Smith contributed to this report.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

[node:title]

Article: [node:title]
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: [node:author]