• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Board Won't Renew Hearns School's Charter

Posted on: Saturday, 16 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley's first charter school might have to close its doors after Antelope Valley Union High School District trustees voted against renewing its operating charter.

Officials at the financially troubled Henry Hearns Charter School of Academic Excellence, which had fewer than 40 students last year and owes the state money, did not provide financial information that high school district officials demanded by a Wednesday deadline.

"There was a projection of expenditures and no documents on revenue. You can't run any kind of business without those two elements," trustee Al Beattie said. "To come and say, 'Here's the money and the expenses,' that's not what the memorandum of understanding required. It required a budget and revenue stream that was verifiable, and that was not there."

The high school board at Wednesday's meeting voted 3-2 not to renew the school's charter, with Beattie and board member Jim Lott dissenting. Before that vote, the same board majority voted not to give Hearns school officials a week to come up with more information.

The board had voted 3-2 two months ago to allow the charter school to operate five more years if it met certain conditions spelled out in a memorandum of understanding between it and the district.

The school's enrollment dropped by 50 percent from last year to fewer than 40 students. It owes the state $134,000 for lacking documentation to back up previously reported attendance.

Lancaster Vice Mayor Henry Hearns, for whom the school is named and whose Littlerock church leases it classroom space, said he wants to try to keep the school operating and may seek another school district to oversee the school's charter.

"The mission and reason for it has not changed. It's all about kids, helping kids who normally would not get help," Hearns said. "I'm not sure how we are going to do it. I'm not sure if we will be able to."

Hearns described as unfair the board majority voting against giving the school additional time to provide more information and verify Hearns officials' claims.

Beattie said Hearns officials said the school may be free of the state debt and would be able to obtain about $114,000 in additional funding by Monday.

The school held a fundraiser in February and said it raised about $55,000, but Beattie said the district was unable to verify the amount. Hearns told the board that he withheld putting that money in the school's county account until he was certain of the charter renewal, Beattie said.

Although he voted in the minority, Beattie said he can't fault the board majority's decision to discontinue the charter.

"In continuing the charter without financial support, it was the board's and legal counsel's opinion that the district would be accountable for any shortfalls," Beattie said. "With the kind of financial situation all school districts are in, there's no extra money to take on those kinds of burdens."

In Littlerock next to First Missionary Baptist Church, of which Hearns is pastor, the school was chartered in 2000 through the high school district. Keppel Union School District trustees earlier turned down a charter application.

Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

Source: Daily News; Los Angeles, Calif.

More News in this Category