St. Helena Charter School Clears Hurdle to Open in ’06, Officials Say

By DEBRA LEMOINE

GREENSBURG – The Charter School of Pine Grove cleared a legal hurdle that should let it proceed with collecting funds and opening its doors next year, charter school officials said Monday.

“We have plans to move forward as quickly as possible,” Joe Lombardo, president of the charter school’s board, said.

Pine Grove officials and the St. Helena Parish School Board have been locked in a legal battle over the board’s vote in January to revoke Pine Grove’s charter. That challenge prevented the charter school from receiving more than $200,000 in federal grants this summer and stalled the charter school’s opening for another year.

In September, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge dismissed the School Board’s challenge to an injunction ordered by state District Judge Clayton James. The injunction lets the charter school open, and keeps the School Board from stopping it.

The 1st Circuit dismissed the School Board’s appeal because the board’s attorney, Nelson D. Taylor, did not file briefs by the deadline, according to a letter from the appellate court.

Now the charter school plans to ask the School Board for its money during a School Board meeting Oct. 24.

Because of the type of charter school Pine Grove is, its funding passes through the School Board before going to the school, Lombardo said.

The U.S. Department of Education asked the state to withhold $200,000 in grants the charter school expected to receive this summer because of the lawsuit. Pine Grove Attorney Charles Riddle said the charter school is eligible for that money.

Lombardo also said that the charter school has reapplied for the grant money as a precaution.

Superintendent Wayne Meadows and Taylor were not in their offices Monday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.

Riddle said the charter school also will ask the 21st Judicial District Court for a final judgment in the case. But he said the injunction will allow his clients to move forward with opening the school until the final decision is made.

Pine Grove officials have worked since 1997 to open a charter school in St. Helena Parish. The latest hurdle stems from the School Board’s January vote to revoke Pine Grove’s charter. School Board members have said they fear losing many students and, consequently, state money to the charter school, causing the poverty-stricken school system to go bankrupt.

Lombardo contends that the charter school would bring back students who don’t attend St. Helena Parish public schools.