JUNE 2021 

In this Issue

PCSD/WCSD LAUNCHES 100TH PROJECT

FEATURED VIDEO: DISTRICT-CHARTER PARTNERSHIPS

CELEBRATING CHARTER SCHOOLS WEEK

REMEMBERING ELI BROAD

STAFF UPDATES

Greetings friends and colleagues, 

PCSD/WCSD have had a productive start to 2021! We launched our 100th project at Why Not You Academy in Washington state which is set to officially open for the 2021-2022 school year. PCSD has also made a significant impact with our partnerships between Oakland Unified School District and several charter management organizations. Learn more in this feature video about one such effort with a facilities project for Education for Change at Lazear Charter Academy. And we were happy to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first charter school during Charter Schools Week this spring with a profile on longtime partner, Environmental Charter Schools.

Happy reading and we wish you all a wonderful summer!

Warmly,

John Sun

Why Not You Academy co-founders Garth Reeves and Scott Canfield.

PCSD/WCSD launches 100th project at Why Not You Academy

PCSD/WCSD completed our 100th project! Why Not You Academy is a brand-new college and career prep high school located in Des Moines, Washington. WCSD managed the project and provided a $490,000 investment along with a $190,000 grant for this $1.3MM project. The school received their certificate of occupancy this spring and will be opening up for the 2021-2022 school year. Learn more about Why Not You Academy in this interview with co-founder, Scott Canfield.

Featured Video: 

District-Charter Partnerships: Lazear Charter Academy and Oakland Unified School District  

PCSD partnered with Education for Change (EFC) to modernize Lazear Charter Academy’s existing space on Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) land. Lazear was the first charter school in Oakland to negotiate a long-term lease for 10 years with the option for two additional 10-year terms for the district land. In order to get construction started before the state facilities funding came in, PCSD provided EFC with a one year $6MM bridge loan. Although the school year started in August 2020, in person instruction did not begin until April 2021 due to the pandemic. Learn more about PCSD’s partnership with Lazear in this feature video.

Celebrating Charter Schools Week with Environmental Charter Schools

PCSD celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first charter school law during Charter Schools Week in mid-May with a profile on one of our long-time partners and founder of Environmental Charter Schools, Alison Suffet Diaz. Learn more about Alison and ECS. 

Remembering Eli Broad

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Eli Broad in early May. He and his wife, Edythe, have made a lasting impact on the City of Los Angeles for generations to come. The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has supported PCSD from its founding in 2004 and has helped us deliver over 70 public charter school facilities serving close to 30,000 students in underserved communities in Los Angeles. We have been so grateful for their ongoing commitment. 

Staff Updates

PCSD welcomed Sherise Henderson as our newest employee this March. 

Want to learn more? Check out PCSD/WCSD's latest and past projects.