Opinion ID: 2321064
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of Midtown Academy's Application for Waivers of Sections 4-103(a) and 6-201

Text: Finally, we address Midtown Academy's contention that the State Board should have granted its requested waivers of Section 4-103(a) and 6-201, which require that the county superintendent nominate for appointment all principals, teachers and clerical personnel for the public charter school. As we stated earlier, the Legislature has vested the State Board of Education `with the last word on any matter concerning educational policy or the administration of the system of public education.' Heister, 392 Md. at 153, 896 A.2d at 350, quoting Wilson v. Bd. of Educ. of Montgomery County, 234 Md. 561, 565, 200 A.2d 67, 69 (1964). The State Board's decision was within its authority and was not inconsistent with law. Accordingly, we shall affirm the State Board's denial of those waivers. [19] For the reasons herein set forth, we shall vacate the judgment of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and remand this case to that court with instructions to vacate the order of the State Board of Education and remand the case to the State Board of Education for further proceedings consistent with our holding. JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY VACATED; CASE REMANDED TO CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO VACATE THE ORDER OF MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND REMAND THE CASE TO THE BOARD FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THIS OPINION; PATTERSON PARK PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, INC., THE MIDTOWN ACADEMY, INC., AND THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE EACH TO PAY ONE-THIRD OF COSTS.