Gerry Urbanic appeared on behalf of the Charleston County Board of Education, and attorney Martin Greer and Bob Crosby, president of Richard Milburn Academy, appeared in behalf of the proposed charter school. After deliberating, the board voted to uphold the local board's decision. Today's ruling explained the board's rationale. The State Board also supported the Charleston County Board of Education's refusal to deny the charter because the makeup of the Board of Directors of the non-profit corporation and the charter committee were not identical. The State Board further denied the request because the application lacked the local, parental and teacher control and direction required in the Charter School Act.
Charter schools receive public funds but are free from most state regulations.
Five charter schools are currently in operation across South Carolina, and four more are scheduled to open in August. The State Department of Education helps groups comply with the requirements of state law in completing applications to create charter schools.