February 2026 ACCS - Item 3 Public Comment 8

Commenter’s first and last name: Alexandra Magana-Hurtado
Organization affiliation:
Parent,
Employee,
Lompoc Teen Center President,
Park Commissioner 3rd District ,
Lompoc Theater Project Board Member,
Path to Achievement Board ,
Leaders of Lompoc Valley 2025,
Junior League Of Santa Barbara,
Agenda item number:
Item 03

Dear ACCS Commissioners,

My name is Alexandra Magaña, and I submit this comment as a member of the general public in strong support of Olive Grove Charter School. I respectfully ask that you consider this letter with great care, as your decision does not affect just one child—it affects an entire population of students and families across Santa Barbara County.

This is our third year at Olive Grove. Prior to enrolling, my daughter was attending her previous school, where she experienced ongoing bullying that significantly impacted her mental health. As a parent, I lived in constant fear for her well-being. Within just one semester at Olive Grove, I saw her begin to heal, regain confidence, and feel safe again—something no academic metric can fully measure.

Unfortunately, when she later returned, the bullying resumed. She was cornered by the same student and pressured into a physical altercation in a bathroom stall. Although she was able to defend herself using skills learned through boxing and karate, a later incident in the locker room involved multiple students holding the door shut and physically assaulting her. My daughter is an honor student with straight A’s, consistently on the principal’s list, and biliterate since sixth grade. On two separate occasions, I entrusted her to that school, and both times she was harmed to the point of requiring urgent care,x-rays and police report. The lack of transparency and communication during these incidents only compounded the trauma for our family.

Since returning to Olive Grove, my daughter has truly thrived. She is on track to graduate by 11th grade, has access to CET courses, and is able to pursue internship opportunities with Santa Barbara Animal Shelter that prepare her for the real world. Olive Grove provides far more than academics—it offers individualized education plans, flexible learning environments, emotional support, and safety. These are critical services for students who do not fit neatly into traditional school settings.

My daughter’s story is only one of hundreds. Students come to Olive Grove for many reasons: some function better academically in a personalized setting, others arrive with emotional or mental health challenges, and many are healing from trauma, bullying, or anxiety that intensified during and after COVID. Olive Grove meets students where they are and gives them the tools to succeed—whether that means preparing them to return to traditional schools or supporting them through graduation.

As a parent of three daughters, I fully understand that education is not one-size-fits-all. Olive Grove has been the right environment for my eldest, while my middle daughter benefits from a more traditional school setting with increased social interaction. The availability of choices like Olive Grove is essential for families trying to do what is best for their children.

In all the capacities in which I serve this community—as a parent, and community leader—I can say without hesitation that I am in full support of Olive Grove Charter School. I see firsthand how students arrive with emotional walls and leave with confidence, stability, and hope. Without Olive Grove operating in Santa Barbara , many families would be left with limited or no safe alternatives, forcing students back into environments where they struggle, disengage, or are harmed.

Please do not take this decision lightly. Closing Olive Grove or denying its ability to serve Santa Barbara will not affect a single student—it will impact an entire population of vulnerable youth and the families who depend on this school as a lifeline.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to give full consideration to keeping Olive Grove Charter School open and serving Santa Barbara. Its impact extends far beyond my family and is vital to the well-being of our community.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Alexandra Magaña-Hurtado