A controversial public charter school in south Alabama met its end today, two months before opening.
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission, after deliberating for half an hour in executive session, voted to revoke Woodland Prep's charter for failing to meet conditions of pre-opening, lack of adherence to generally accepted financial standards, and failing to establish community support for the school.
The vote came just less than two weeks after a hearing where representatives of the charter school laid out reasons why they have been unable to meet those conditions. The charter was initially approved in May 2018 and was scheduled to open in August. In February, commissioners voted to begin revocation proceedings.
This is the first charter revoked by the Commission. Alabama currently has four public charter schools in operation under the authority of the Commission.
Woodland Prep attorney Nash Campbell said, “It’s just a little disturbing that a large group of people that threaten businesses, threaten people--and also essentially used religious and racial elements--caused this school to never get off the ground.”
Related: Alabama looks to shut down controversial charter school before it opens
Representatives of Woodland Prep said during the May 28 hearing that bullying of contractors and extensive rainfall made it difficult to get the school built and ready for inspection to get a certificate of occupancy, a requirement prior to opening.
Woodland Prep board members said raising money had been difficult due to community pushback against the school, as businesses and donors did not feel they could publicly support the school's opening.
Parents were afraid to publicly enroll their children in the charter school, Woodland Prep representatives said, in fear of retaliation by opponents of the charter school. Some in the community said they opposed the charter because the education service provider is a native of Turkey and practices the Muslim religion.
Opponents said the charter school wasn’t needed, that the five existing Washington County schools are successful academically and that money diverted to the charter school would harm their existing schools.
On June 5, an Alabama Court of Appeals ordered the September 2019 lawsuit filed by the Alabama Education Association and three Washington County public school employees against the charter school dismissed, overturning a lower court’s order allowing the suit to continue.
In a statement, AEA President Sherry Tucker said, “AEA has consistently said we support good charter schools. Woodland Prep was not going to be a good charter school."
AEA Associate Executive Director Theron Stokes said the revocation was “a long time coming.”
“I hope this case serves as a warning shot to out-of-state corporate interests who may be looking to Alabama to make money in the charter school business” Stokes added. "Where charter schools have been the result of grassroots activism by Alabamians, we have supported and will support them. Where they are a money-grabbing scheme, AEA will stand against them. The votes today also confirm, now, the members of the Commission are going to hold them accountable.”
A subcommittee of three state charter school commissioners will begin school closure proceedings.
In other proceedings at Tuesday's Commission meeting, Capstone Charter School, scheduled to open in Tuscaloosa in 2021, surrendered its charter due to lack of financial support.
Related: Rural charter school stokes religious fears, roils community in Alabama
Update: This story was updated at 4:25 p.m. to include statements from the Alabama Education Association.