Idaho virtual school ‘failed to comply’ with charter rules. Now it’s closing
A virtual charter school in Idaho will close at the end of the month after its appeal was denied in its last effort to remain open.
In November, the Idaho Public Charter School Commission’s director recommended that Another Choice Virtual Charter School’s charter not be renewed because it hadn’t met certain operational standards and had “failed to comply with public charter school statutes,” according to the board’s agenda.
In February, the commission held a hearing and later issued a rare order not to renew the school’s charter.
The school appealed the decision, but a hearing officer who heard the appeal last month recommended it be denied. On Wednesday, the Idaho State Board of Education approved a motion directing the board president to adopt the recommendation.
The school, which serves more than 400 students, must close by June 30.
Commission says school violated statutes
The charter commission said in its February order the school had low academic performance during its performance certificate’s term, with an overall performance rating of “critical,” and that a financial audit showed “outcomes indicative of financial distress.” The school also did not meet certain operational requirements on governance, public transparency and board oversight, the commission said in its order.
A November commission report obtained by Idaho Ed News said a board member may have received pecuniary benefits from a contract between the board and a company the board member co-owned.
The commission said it believed that the head administrator violated “multiple ethics-related statutes” because of contracts she entered into with companies she co-owned. The board “failed to exercise consistent and effective oversight over the school and its administrator,” the document said.
The school said it didn’t agree with the recommendation and shared changes the school had made in response to the concerns raised.
There was little discussion at the State Board of Education meeting Wednesday before members voted. It’s rare for an appeal to come to the board. Board president Kurt Liebich said it’s the first time this happened in his tenure as a board member.
“We take this action very seriously. We have great confidence in the charter school commission and the work that they do,” Liebich said during the meeting. “I think we all believe in public school choice, but we also believe in school accountability.”
Superintendent: ‘Devastating news’ for school
Superintendent Jeff Turner said in an emailed statement the decision to close the school is “devastating news to the school community, its students, families, and employees.”
In a June 3 update sent to families and posted on the school’s website, Turner said he and the school’s board had “exhausted all avenues to keep the school open.” The school, he said, would help families enroll their students in a new institution.
“Thank you for your enduring support as we fought together to save our school,” he wrote.
The school has partnered with Wilder School District’s virtual school, according to its website. Many of its teachers and curriculum are transitioning to that school.
At the hearing last month, parents told the Statesman the school had provided their children with opportunities they couldn’t have had elsewhere. They praised the school for its customized support for students, and the fact that it was welcoming to all students.
Becca Savransky covers education for the Idaho Statesman in partnership with Report for America. The position is partly funded through community support. Click here to donate.
