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Kyla Molina briefs the State Board of Education on Sovereign Community School during a special meeting on Friday.
In a five-hour special meeting on Friday, the Oklahoma State Board of Education voted to keep an indigenous-led charter school on probation and to place an Oklahoma City district on probation.
The board could have terminated Sovereign Community School’s contract, but they praised operations director Stacie Thrasher and founding board member Kyla Molina for working to improve its governance and solve financial problems.
Enrollment has consistently fallen short of projections, leaving the school short on funds, and Sovereign Community School pursued a merger with fellow charter Santa Fe South Schools, accepting a $300,000 loan. Molina told the state board they want to get the question of financial solvency off of the state’s plate.
By: Barry Mangold
The Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously agreed to put Western Heights Public Schools on probation, the precursor to removing the district’s accreditation.
Board legal counsel Brad Clark presented several complaints from parents and others against the district along with alleged violations of state law.
Western Heights Superintendent Mannix Barnes did not provide a comment after News 9 denied his request for a live interview.
WHPS Board of Education president Robert Everman did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
No one from WHPS was present to represent the district at Friday’s meeting despite multiple requests from the state board.
State Board Puts Western Heights Public Schools On Probation, Threatens Dissolution news9.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news9.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The board made the decision unanimously.
During the 90-day probationary period, the board said Western Heights Public Schools must take corrective action or face a loss of accreditation.
Board members said they are acting on the numerous complaints that came from district employees and parents. The district s issues include, but are not limited to, dismal community relations, a lack of in-person instruction and a lack of available benefits for staff members.
Western Heights administration was asked to appear during Friday s meeting, but no one representing the district joined the special board meeting.