Mississippi Charter Board Sets Deadlines In Authorization Case
The Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board laid out a timeline Monday for resolving a charter school's pending authorization, following a closed-session review.
Board chair Candace Hunt, recapping the executive session discussion at the Sept. 28 meeting, told members the board would submit a written request to its hearing officer, with a response "requested by September 30th." Hunt said findings of fact and recommendations are due "before October 9th," in keeping with board policies and procedures. She said those procedures also allow both sides a 14-day window to submit additional responses, so that "the board can review the hearing officers reported recommendation... and the written responses... at our October 26" meeting.
The case has remained unresolved since a May 14 verification hearing. According to public comment at board meetings from Mississippi First, federal Charter School Program grant funds may hinge on the outcome. The board's stated timeline — hearing-officer response by Sept. 30, findings by Oct. 9, and full review Oct. 26 — creates a documented, checkable record of the authorization process as it moves toward a decision.