SAN MARCOS – Bayshore Prep, a charter school under the San Marcos Unified School District's watch, has received a one-year reprieve to shape up or face being shut down.

The school, which opened in 2005 in a strip mall in San Marcos, had some problems with the way it was being run. It has about 240 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

San Marcos school board members granted the one-year conditional extension Wednesday on a vote of 3-1, with board member Mary Borevitz dissenting. Trustee Pam Bancells was absent.

Bayshore, an independent-study program with classes and activities at its center on Rancho Santa Fe Road, can now operate through June 2009.

Superintendent Kevin Holt said several main issues concerned the school district. It appeared as if four students had received diplomas without earning all the credits, he said, though Bayshore administrators said it was a paperwork issue.

Also, some students had received double credit for taking the same class twice, instead of just receiving a higher grade, Holt said, and some students were allowed to earn credits solely by passing tests. Jayna Gaskell, Bayshore's interim co-director, acknowledged some oversight issues, such as data not being transferred from hard copies into an electronic system in a timely way. She said that issue was noted in an audit she had prepared for Bayshore this year as a consultant.

Former executive director and co-founder Carolyn Lucia resigned in May after problems with student transcripts came to light. Her sister and co-founder, Catherine Heredia, is still involved with the charter school as co-director.

The conditions that the board imposed have to do with record keeping, staffing and governing rules. Bayshore has more than a dozen conditions, including:

 Developing a procedure for how information on student transcripts will be entered by staff members, including verifying units and classes taken at community colleges.

 Creating a timeline to internally audit transcripts.

 Stating that students cannot earn “credit by exam” and explaining in writing how students can repeat core academic classes for credit.

 Working with a San Marcos Unified employee who will oversee Bayshore's compliance during the 2008-09 year. Bayshore will pay the costs.

 Requiring the executive director to have a valid state administrative credential.

 Implementing an anti-nepotism policy.

The school board could end Bayshore's charter if it fails any condition. Gaskell said most conditions will be met before the start of school. She said the only possible challenge is finding a qualified executive director with the right background in the next six weeks.

Parents were thrilled by the board's decision, Gaskell said.

Kathia Schnepp, who has three children at Bayshore, said she's happy the charter school has an opportunity to fix the problems and move on. She said she was worried that the school wouldn't get a chance to do so after some problems were discussed by staff members at a parent meeting in May.

Schnepp, a San Marcos resident, said that home schooling is the best fit for her family and that Bayshore provides a support system and community. She said the conditions seem reasonable.

“None of the requirements are insurmountable,” Schnepp said.

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Linda Lou: (760) 737-7574; linda.lou@uniontrib.com