Unionized teachers at San Jose charter school vote no confidence in CEO over budget slashes and school shutdown

Unionized teachers from Downtown College Prep, a charter school system in San Jose, issued a vote of no confidence in CEO Pete Settelmayer after he announced budget cuts and a school closure earlier this year.

Hundreds of students at DCP Alum Rock High School will have to transfer when the campus closes this summer, due to declining enrollment and a hefty budget deficit. DCP was founded in 2000 and serves predominantly low-income students of color in downtown San Jose and Alum Rock.

Settelmayer, who came to DCP in 2021, said last month that the 205 students enrolled at the high school did not generate enough state attendance revenue to support all of the school’s services. He said the campus was facing a $1.5 million to $1.7 million deficit.

Now, educators from South Bay Educators United, which represents teachers at the four DCP campuses, said Settelmayer’s lack of transparency and respect for the students and families affected by the closure led them to issue the vote of no confidence at Tuesday’s board of directors meeting.

Maria Arellano, the president of DCP’s board of directors, which hired Settelmayer, said of the decision to close the school, “this is a very painful time at DCP, we are working together as a team to serve our students and families.”

Settelmayer said DCP is examining the way the organization makes decisions and is focusing more on site-leadership and collaboration. He added that recently, DCP formed a cabinet to increase representation around decision-making, instead of relying on the executive team.

“Because of the loss of (DCP Alum Rock) and laying folks off, the organization is going through a grieving process,” Settelmayer said. “My role as CEO is to respect that process and really keep a focus on what we’re here for, which is our students… A leader doesn’t run from painful times. We have to lean into it.”

According to the union’s announcement, 95% of all represented employees throughout the four campuses signed on to a statement declaring educators’ lack of trust in Settelmayer’s leadership.

“Traditional public schools take …(longer) to close, with a process built in to engage the community and ensure their voices are not only heard but included in the decision-making process,” said SBEU Co-President Sal Williams. “This school was closed in five weeks: from the announcement to the final board decision. Families and students were not engaged in the decision, but instead abruptly told that the school was proposed to close. This does not show respect for those we are here to serve.”

Williams teaches English at DCP El Primero High School and has worked for the college prep charter for 9 years. He said while he loves working with his students and is “ride or die” for the DCP mission, he donated all of his DCP clothing after the closure of Alum Rock was announced.

“I’m embarrassed right now to be part of the community,” Williams said. “I love the mission and I’m not going anywhere, but I don’t want to be tied up in a community that’s (causing) so much harm right now that could have been avoided…the way that it has gone about has just been so harmful and that is really difficult to struggle with.”

Downtown College Prep said students at Alum Rock High School will be transferred to El Primero High School. Students transferring to El Primero will be offered transportation to the campus from DCP Alum Rock Middle School.

The charter said it will help students find a new school if they choose not to attend El Primero, and added that it is actively reaching out to other charter schools to extend their enrollment deadlines to students affected by the closure.

Williams pointed out that El Primero is an entirely different community on another side of town and might not be accessible or a good fit for former DCP Alum Rock students.

As for staff, DCP has said it is committed to help find new opportunities for employees who will lose their jobs when DCP Alum Rock closes.

John Benoit, an engineering teacher at Alum Rock High and treasurer of SBEU, said he will not be transferring to El Primero High because there are no openings at the moment. He said only four out of the 14 teachers at Alum Rock High School have found positions elsewhere in DCP.

Settelmayer confirmed that DCP was able to retain seven employees – four teachers and three other staff members.

Benoit said the closure has taken its toll on him and his students.

“In my classes, like 60% are juniors and it’s super hard to have conversations with them and not just start crying,” Benoit said.