Parents upset with MUSD take advantage of other options

A new charter school, located at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, has received close to 600 enrollment applications. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

Parents who are frustrated with the elimination of busing in the Menifee Union School District continue to explore their options, including two local businesses that may benefit from the situation.

A new charter school now open in Menifee is experiencing high enrollment, especially with families who live closer to the school than their MUSD assigned school. In addition, a transportation program offered by the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley has attracted families seeking busing and child care services.

Bear River Student Center, a public charter school opening this month in Menifee, has enrolled nearly 500 students in the last few weeks and is expected to have enrollment of close to 600, said Lindsay Robson, site facilitator for the school. Located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 26800 Newport Road, the school will use the school facilities that previously housed the church's own school.

"We were expecting enrollment of 360, but in the last week that jumped to 480," Robson said. "It looks like we'll be at about 580 when all the applications are processed. I haven't been told any of our grade levels are full, at least not yet."

Bear River Student Center is one of 17 school sites operated by Springs Charter Schools, which is accredited by the Riverside County Office of Education. As a county-accredited school, it did not require approval of MUSD. The school offers classes for TK-8, with home school available for grades K-12.

The school does not provide transportation, but Robson said it appears part of the large enrollment comes from families who are frustrated with the MUSD announcement that busing has been eliminated for general education students.

"I do think Menifee losing their busing has made a lot of parents upset, and we're filling a need out here," Robson said.

Robson said Springs Charter Schools are popular because of their personalized instruction model, in which the teacher assesses each student and helps them work at their own level. Enrollment is free and classes begin Aug. 28. For information about Bear River Student Center, call 951-225-7650 or visit springscs.org.

Parents are also contacting the Boys & Girls Club for information about its busing program, said Sam Handley, one of the club's administrators. The club has contracted for busing services with Hemet Unified School District -- the same district previously used by MUSD. Children who are enrolled at the club for the $20 annual fee and use the club's before- and/or after-school services may be transported to and from their public school for a monthly fee of $275. Financial assistance is available.

"We may very well see a tremendous demand for our services," Handley said. "We have all the elementary schools covered, and we can do scholarships up to 75 percent on the fees."

Students who are bused back to the club after school are eligible for the many programs offered there. Supervised homework time is part of the program. Handley said that MUSD is referring families to the club as an alternative for busing and has allowed the club to use three additional classrooms at the former Menifee Elementary School, the club's site on Garbani Road.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Club, call 951-246-8845 or visit menifeebgc.org.

The Menifee Boys & Girls Club's busing program is resulting in increased enrollment.