The State Board of Education on June 12 approved a charter amendment for Hartford Charter Public School that reconfigures the school’s leadership structure so a director of school operations serves as the board’s direct report and the final decisionmaker when leadership consensus cannot be reached.

School representatives told the board the amendment keeps the existing position titles and collaborative leadership model but changes the organizational chart so the director of school operations “will be the person that reports directly to the board and is accountable directly to the board,” and that the director would make a final decision when the three‑director leadership team cannot reach consensus.

Why it matters: Board members supported the amendment as a succession‑planning and operational clarity measure but emphasized the need for explicit, written policy to avoid ambiguity about hiring, firing and discipline — areas that have caused problems in other charter schools when founder‑leadership departs.

What the board heard: Trustees asked for specific language clarifying whether the director of operations has hiring and firing authority over the other two directors and how disciplinary processes would be handled. School leaders explained that the director of operations would maintain final authority in situations where consensus is not possible but promised to draft comprehensive policies and procedures spelling out processes for discipline, hiring, and succession.

Formal action and conditions: The board approved the charter amendment and asked the school to return with the board‑level policies and the planned operating procedures for the leadership team so trustees could confirm there is no “gray area” around employment and discipline decisions.

Ending: Trustees described the change as a way to protect the school’s culture while providing clearer accountability lines as part of prudent governance and succession planning.