Board votes to stick to decision to end contract with charter school

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- The Tulsa Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to stand by its earlier decision to end its contract with a troubled charter school.

W.E.B DuBois Academy was approved as a charter school in June, meaning it would get public funds but could be run like a private school. But in August, the school board voted to revoke its charter contract, citing leadership problems and an inadequate financial plan.

The school has changed board membership and leadership twice and had to delay the start of school by a month.

About 120 people attended the special meeting held so that the academy's board of directors could answer concerns of Tulsa's school board.

State law requires that charter schools get such a hearing in front of the sponsoring school board before a charter can be revoked.

Greg Robinson, chairman of the five-member DuBois board, said the school has 115 students and is equipped to meet the needs of students in grades kindergarten through eight.

State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett said DuBois officials will have to return a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Education that was intended to get the school started.

Tulsa Public Schools has issued charters for two other schools that are now operating: the Deborah Brown Community School and the Dove Science Academy.