Parents and staff urge five-year renewal for Mountain View Academy charter during District 49 public comment

During public comment at the Jan. 16 Board of Education meeting, several parents and a district employee urged the board to grant Mountain View Academy (MBA) a five-year charter contract renewal rather than a one-year conditional renewal recommended by a zone report.

John Graham, who identified himself as a father, business owner and long-time education advocate, said Mountain View Academy is “a high performing school” with “over 80% parent and student satisfaction and approval” and called the conditional one-year recommendation “unwarranted tension between administration and our valued charter schools.”

Parent speakers reinforced that view. Suze Fisher, who said she is both a parent of multiple Mountain View students and a District 49 employee, described choosing Mountain View as an intentional decision and urged a five-year renewal. Marlita Vincent told the board her child had attended MBA since it opened and urged the superintendent and board to act quickly so the school can plan.

Why it matters: The speakers said the one-year conditional renewal could cause turmoil for students, families and investors, and they asked the board to reconsider the zone recommendation. The transcript records only public comment; no renewal vote or board action on the charter renewal appeared in the meeting minutes provided.

Board follow-up: Board chair Lori Thompson acknowledged the comments and the superintendent later indicated the administration would review outstanding issues; the transcript shows the board moved on to the consent agenda after public comment.

Ending: Speakers said they hoped the superintendent’s recent return to the district would lead to a quick reconsideration and a multi-year renewal so families and staff have stability.