Philly can’t proceed with non-renewing a city charter school — for now
Nonrenewal proceedings against a charter school that has sued the city were halted by a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge.
A judge has barred the Philadelphia School District from continuing nonrenewal proceedings against a city charter — for now.
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Damaris Garcia ordered Tuesday that the school board can’t move forward with a nonrenewal vote for Philadelphia Montessori Charter, which sued the district last month. That vote would have been the first step on a road to possible closure.
Garcia said the district was barred from “proceeding with charter nonrenewal proceedings against Philadelphia Montessori Charter School, pending further order of the court.”
Garcia set a hearing on the matter for July 27.
Philadelphia Montessori‘s lawsuit claims the district violated state charter law with its “shifting standards, inconsistent methodologies, and procedures that do not provide fair notice or a neutral adjudicative structure.”
Mark Seiberling, a lawyer for Philadelphia Montessori, had asked the court to prohibit action on any charter renewals and nonrenewals, not just Montessori’s.
The legal dispute between the district and Philadelphia Montessori began after school board president Reginald Streater recently directed the district’s charter office to prepare notices of nonrenewal for Philadelphia Montessori and another charter, Global Leadership Academy Charter School Southwest at Huey. Streater and other members of the board had concerns about academic, operations, personnel, and finances at both schools.
Votes have not been scheduled or taken for either school’s nonrenewal.
A nonrenewal vote does not mean a school closes; it instead triggers a hearing, with witnesses and evidence. The hearing officer would then recommend renewal or nonrenewal, and the board would take another vote.
The nonrenewal process, if triggered, typically takes at least a year, and schools remain open while it plays out.
Philadelphia Montessori, on Island Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia, educates 250 students in grades K through 6.
The school board could not immediately be reached for comment, but does not typically speak on active litigation.
