Guidance Charter to hold Town Hall Meeting Thursday

PALMDALE – The Guidance Charter School will hold a Town Hall Meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the school’s Administration Building/Cafeteria, located at 1125-B East Palmdale Blvd., in Palmdale.

Parents, staff and members of the public are invited to ask questions and share suggestions and recommendations regarding the school’s plans to renew its charter and expand its campus from K-8 to K-12.

“I want to hear the public’s opinions and get their feedback,” said Executive Director Kamal Al-Khatib. “What programs would they like to see that are not offered by all the high schools that we have?”

Al-Khatib said The Guidance Charter School is expanding its classes to the high school level based on the demand from parents, as evidenced by the school’s last survey.

“Over 80 percent of the people want to see a high school,” he said, adding that the high school will also eliminate the “culture shock” that students endure when they move from a 300-student middle school to a 4000-student high school.

For The Guidance Charter High School to be successful, Al-Khatib said the school must offer programs that students and parents want. He says town hall meetings are key to “taking the pulse” of the community.

“I want people to be very vocal about what they want,” Al-Khatib said. “Don’t come just to listen; I want to hear from you.”

Al-Khatib said he is aiming to have The Guidance Charter High School open in about two years at a location yet to be determined.