MOSCOW - The State Board of Education announced an agreement to resolve the Nampa School District Board of Trustees’ appeal regarding the Victory Charter School.
According to the agreement, the Nampa Board of Trustees agrees to dismiss its appeal and allow the Victory Charter School to proceed under current law as a school chartered by the State Board. The State Board acknowledged the Nampa School Board’s concerns over operation of charter schools under the Nampa School Board’s jurisdiction.
“This resolution is in the best interest of the public and the students who will be attending Victory Charter School,” said Rod Lewis, State Board of Education President. “I’m pleased all three parties were able to work together and resolve this issue through mediation.”
On March 21, 2002, the Nampa School Board denied the Victory Charter School application and the matter was appealed to the State Board of Education. On October 2, 2003, the State Board of Education ruled the Nampa School District had been “arbitrary” in its denial of Victory and approved the charter school on a 4 to 3 vote. According to charter school law at the time, the State Board of Education could only approve the charter school on the basis that the school board’s decision was “arbitrary” or deny the charter. Now the State Board of Education can deny or approve the charter school, refer it back to the school district or send it onto the Charter School Commission. The agreement signed by all three parties recognizes the limitations of the charter school law at the time, and that the new law will better serve charter schools and school districts.
# # # # #