CHEYENNE - The state Board of Education Monday unanimously upheld the Laramie County School District 1 board's rejection of a Cheyenne charter school application.

Although the state board was critical of what it described as a lack of cooperative negotiation between local school officials and the charter applicants, the members found the local board had sufficient reason to reject the application.

The order cited five reasons to support the denial of the Cheyenne Classical Academy charter:

* The proposed curriculum was not sufficiently developed for the district to determine if it met state legal requirements.

* There was evidence that the charter school could select a student population that is not diverse and would be made up of students who already do well in the district.

* The academy did not provide sufficient accountability to the district board in critical areas required by state law.

* It is practically impossible for the academy to prepare a facility that either meets the guidelines of the School Facilities Commission, or, in the alternative, building code requirements.

* For a variety of reasons, the local board could not determine the application was in the best interests of the students.

The order emphasized, however, that state charter school law contemplates a cooperative effort between charter applicants and local school districts, which didn't happen in the case of the Cheyenne Classical Academy.

"Moreover the state board is particularly concerned that the Wyoming Charter School Act not be used as a means to discourage charter schools in this state," the order said.

"We've gone through an academic and legal exercise," state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim McBride said after the vote. "I don't think this is a statement about Cheyenne Classical Academy or a charter school."

Chairman Jim Lowham of Casper said the exercise disclosed some points of confusion in the charter application process.

"During the June meeting, we'll talk about what we can do to improve the process," Lowham added.

The attorneys for Cheyenne Classical Academy, Lucas Buckley and Matt Kaufman, said later Monday they will look at all of the options available to the academy.

They said they need to talk to their clients and the charter school board.

The applicants can appeal to District Court within 30 days and also can go back and work with the local school board on the current application.

Because a charter school can apply every year, the Cheyenne Classical Academy could reapply in November and start working with a new application, the attorneys said.

Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.

* Last we knew: Backers of the proposed Cheyenne Classical Academy appealed the rejection of their charter school application.

* The latest: The state Board of Education upheld the denial.

* What's next: The charter school backers can take the case to court or approach the local school board with another application.]]->