AOPA supports California bill to keep charter schools safe distance from runways

AOPA supports California bill to keep charter schools safe distance from runways

AOPA is supporting a California bill that would require charter schools to notify (in writing) the State Department of Education if they are planning to acquire a new school site within two miles of an airport runway. Assembly Bill 1358, which has passed the Assembly Education Committee with bipartisan support, would impose the same requirements on charter schools that currently apply to public schools. Joining AOPA in support of the bill are the powerful California Teachers Association and the California School Boards Association.

"There are numerous and compelling reasons not to place schools within two miles of an existing airport," wrote Roger Cohen, AOPA vice president of regional affairs, in a letter to the committee. "The current state law for applicable reviews of proposed school locations within two miles of an airport runway or potential airport runway is good public policy, a policy designed to protect the interests of the local community, the airport, but most of all, the students and staff at the proposed school."

Assembly Bill 1358 is sponsored by Assembly Member Gene Mullin.

April 29, 2005