Superintendents of Boone County and adjacent districts sought veto of charter schools bill

Gov. Mike Parson signed a bill that would allow charter schools in Boone County despite the superintendents of the county and adjacent school districts signing a letter asking him to veto the education bill that would allow charter schools to expand to Boone County.

The letter hints at the potential for a lawsuit challenging the law.

Charter schools are independent public-school districts with no elected school board.

The letter was signed by superintendents in Columbia, Fayette, Hallsville, Harrisburg, North Callaway, Sturgeon and Southern Boone districts.

The Columbia delegation of the Missouri House of Representatives also appealed to Parson to veto the bill. The Columbia Board of Education stands against charter schools bill (columbiatribune.com) approved a resolution opposing the legislation.

The legislation doesn't make sense, the superintendents' letter reads.

"Here, there is no rational basis to support the expansion of charter schools to only Boone County," the letter reads. "As the eighth most populated county in the state, targeting Boone County for more charter schools skips over andignores other counties with higher population and higher density. Also, targeting Boone County for more charter schools affects a perplexing and arbitrary collection of eight different school districts, ranging in size from 600 to 19,000 students in both urban and rural settings. Finally, none of the eight school districts inside of Boone County has ever been unaccredited, provisionally accredited, or at risk for loss of accreditation."

The letter calls the move unconstitutional, stating it doesn't meet the standard of a local or special law that must be supported by a rational basis.

"Although we have various concerns about the specific details included in the legislation, this letterfocuses on the unconstitutional attempt to expand charter schools into Boone County," the letter reads. "Specifically, Senate Bill No. 727 violates Article III, section 40(30) of the Missouri Constitution, which provides that 'the general assembly shall not pass any local or special law … where a general law can be made applicable.” By proposing a new classification for where charter schools are permitted to operate, Senate Bill 727 expressly and impermissibly targets Boone County without explanation, justification, or rational basis."

It hints at the potential of a future lawsuit.

"Inequitable and unconstitutional, Senate Bill 727 will not survive a legal challenge brought before theMissouri courts," the letter's conclusion reads. "We urge you to avoid the unnecessary division and cost of potential litigation. Support our public school districts and the families in our communities by vetoing Senate Bill 727."

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Letter from ed leaders suggests legal action after bill is approved