PBC school district loses state ruling on charters

The Palm Beach County School Board cannot reject a charter school simply because it thinks the school is not innovative enough, a state judge has ruled.

The decision, released this week, could clear the way for two more Renaissance charter schools to finally open. Both were rejected by the school district during the past three years. Renaissance currently has six schools operating in the county that were approved before the School Board developed more stringent rules for charter school applications.

“This is a huge win for parents and students in Palm Beach County,” said Ken Haiko, chairman of the Renaissance Charter Foundation governing board “We are looking forward to putting this behind us and working side by side with the Palm Beach School District to bring new high quality educational options to the community.”

Administrative Law Judge June McKinney ruled the threshold in state law “is only to encourage the use of innovative learning methods, not mandate a standard.”

She rejected two other district restrictions: that charter schools can’t locate too close to a comparable district-run school and that at least 51 percent of a charter school’s governing board must live in Palm Beach County.

“There is no authority for a sponsor to tell a charter school where the facility shall be located,” McKinney wrote. “Charter schools have the freedom to choose [their] location in the district.”

The School Board is considering whether to appeal and plans to discuss its options in closed session Wednesday, dis--

trict spokeswoman Kathy Burstein said.

School Board members allege charter schools allow private businesses to

profit by siphoning off resources from traditional schools without providing a better eduction.

Board members have supported charter schools that have a niche, such as teaching job skills or educating autistic students, but

have opposed charter schools targeting traditional students.

Charter school proponents say the schools provide a choice for parents unhappy with traditional schools.

The Renaissance schools would be operated by Charter Schools USA, a powerhouse management company based in Fort Lauderdale.