A group that wants to start the first statewide kindergarten-through-12th grade online charter school has blanketed school districts throughout California — including many in the East Bay — with petitions seeking approval for its plan.

The approach has upset some who say the effort is wasting public resources in a time when money is tight.

"I do not support it, it's not a good deal," Piedmont schools Superintendent Connie Hubbard said.

"A charter school takes money from the district. It is not a good fit for Piedmont," Hubbard said, adding that Piedmont students who need alternative educational programs are already served with Millennium High School, home schooling and other programs.

State educational officials agreed.

"We don't support the 'throw it against the wall and see what sticks' approach," said Stephanie Farland, senior policy consultant at the California School Boards Association. Reviewing the petitions and holding the necessary public hearings is costing districts money, she said.

Global Tides, an organization linked to an education group funded by the Walmart founder's Walton Family Foundation, says its Web-based charter schools will target at-risk students.

The group has submitted 91 petitions for approval in 14 California counties, including to all Alameda County school districts, said Marco Salazar, a vice president of Charter School Development Systems of Newport Beach, an affiliate of Global

Charter School Development Systems, and its partner company Ed Futures, runs and helps start charter schools nationwide.

Before they can open, charter schools — public schools that get state funding — must be approved by traditional school districts or agencies. Once approved, an online charter school can serve pupils in that county and adjacent ones.

In Piedmont's case, the school board at its last meeting had little support for the concept, but held off taking any official action until an upcoming meeting. They noted that no representative from Global Tides was at the meeting to answer their questions.

Deborah Sorenson, president of the Association of Piedmont Teachers, reaffirmed Hubbard's comments, saying, "This (program) is not in the best interest of students at-risk. It can siphon off students and funds. There is no level of support with APT."

If approved in Alameda County, for instance, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Joaquin and Santa Clara county students could also take courses.

"We're not interested in students (who are) performing well in traditional public school," Salazar said. He said the school would target students with attendance problems and develop education plans to help them succeed. "We're not a threat. We want to be another option to help students succeed." Salazar said plans are to open in fall 2010 with 100 students per approved petition, for a total of 1,400 California students. The charter school would get about $5,000 per student from the state. Students would get free laptops, printers, phones and Internet connections, Salazar said. There would be no tuition.

The school would work much like independent study or home school, with both print and online materials used, and a parent or other adult helping the student at home.

The petitions were sent to districts in September. Under charter school law, districts must hold a public hearing within 30 days and make a decision within 60.

Districts analyze the petitions and decide based on measurements such as whether the charter school plan is educationally and financially sound. Salazar said a third of districts have not replied, and a third are still considering. He said some districts in Siskiyou, Placer and Kern counties are supportive.

He said remaining districts have denied the petitions or will not consider them.

Farland said one concern of districts is that the six signatures from teachers interested in working with Global Tides, a requirement for charter school petitions, are the same on all petitions. She said teachers need to be available in-person for students, and six wouldn't be enough for a statewide program.

Salazar said he understands local districts' frustration, but his group was told by the state that they needed to be operational for three years before the state Education Department could consider statewide approval for the program. He said scheduling makes it impossible to attend every public hearing, but he goes when he can.

On the teacher issue, he said the school will hire more if approved.

Global Tides wants to be the first statewide online charter school, but others come close. Jim Konantz, of K12, affiliated with California Virtual Academies, said it has nine schools and about 11,000 pupils representing almost every county in the state.

Staff writers Linda Davis, Linh Tat, Kristofer Noceda and Robert Jordan contributed to this story.