Instead of spending their morning sitting in the classroom, about a dozen students from Chesapeake Science Pointe Public Charter School spent Wednesday morning lobbying at the Anne Arunel County School Board meeting to keep their school open next year.
“They?re here because they?ve lost faith in their board,” said Spear Lancaster, spokesman for Chesapeake Science Pointe. “All this happened a few months ago, and we still haven?t resolved anything.”
Dressed in the school?s uniform of blue pants, white shirts and maroon ties, the middle school students carried signs made from gift box tops and poster board with messages, including “Chesapeake Science Pointe thanks the Board of Education” and “Chesapeake Science Pointe is Awesome.”
Acting Deputy Superintendent Ken Nichols said the district soon will advise the school about the improvements needed before it can be approved to reopen next year. Nichols said the two-page list includes improving cleanliness in the building, proper scheduling of instructional time and supervision of students, and proper completion of administrative paperwork.
Chesapeake Science Pointe will have 30 days after receiving notice from the school district to make the improvements or face possible closure.
Chesapeake Science Pointe?s director, John Omura, was asked to leave the school in March amid allegations of mismanagement. Omural formally resigned last week, and the school?s governing board has since picked Fatih Kindal as the new director.
But Anne Arundel County school officials have blocked his official hiring, saying he does not meet basic certification requirements and the school does not have the money to pay him.
“The issue is not in the classroom,” said School Board Member Enrique Melendez. “It?s fundamental managementissues. There are some fundamental issues that have to be fixed.”
Anne Arundel School Board President Konrad Wayson said he would meet with the charter school?s governing board in the next two weeks to discuss the school?s difficulties.
