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Committee conditionally approves American Preparatory Academy waiver, asks for additional data by April 13
Summary
The committee voted to approve American Preparatory Academy’s request to open a satellite campus sooner than planned but attached conditions: staff must receive requested information by April 13. Vice Chair Ballinger recused herself from the APA matter.
The Law and Licensing Committee voted to approve American Preparatory Academy’s request to waive R277‑552 timelines so APA may open a campus earlier than originally scheduled, contingent on the committee receiving requested information by April 13.
David Shurette, business development director for American Preparatory Schools, told the committee APA had been approved to open an Eagle Mountain campus and then learned the district planned to close Cedar Valley Elementary after the October deadline for opening. He said APA is exploring a lease of the Cedar Valley facility and has held weekly town halls "with the families out there" as it solicits enrollment commitments.
Committee members pressed APA about enrollment commitments, special education services, teacher recruitment and transportation. APA characterized its outreach as "courting" families and said it had not yet signed a lease; it expects a one‑year lease with an optional second year and is seeking roughly 100 enrollments by May 7 to proceed. Members asked whether APA would waive allocated land‑trust or other student‑based funds that already had been assigned; APA said it would consult its CFO and return with answers.
The record shows Vice Chair Ballinger recused herself from consideration of this matter. The committee also adopted a separate procedural motion directing staff to draft an amendment to R277‑121 requiring charter authorizers to attend committee meetings when waiver requests are considered.
The committee’s approval of the APA waiver was amended to be "subject to the committee receiving an answer to their requests by April 13," and the motion as amended passed unanimously (committee vote recorded 4–0; Vice Chair Ballinger recused). The item will be forwarded to the full board for final action.
