Board names interim closing officer for Proud to Partner Leadership Academy amid public objections

The Statewide Charter School Board on June 8 authorized Executive Director Rebecca Wilkinson to appoint an interim closing officer and to contract for a final closing officer as needed to manage the administrative closure of Proud to Partner Leadership Academy.

Dr. Wilkinson told the board that the closure requires an official to handle multiple administrative tasks and said she intended to appoint Ellie Rivas, the board’s financial compliance officer, as the interim closing officer and to contract with a third party for a final closing officer if necessary. Marshall Baker moved to authorize Dr. Wilkinson to identify an interim closing officer and to contract for a final closing officer; Damon Gardenhire seconded. The motion passed with all members present voting yes.

During the public comment period earlier in the meeting, Rachel Brainard spoke about the termination of Proud to Partner's charter contract, saying she did not feel people affected by the decision were heard and urging the board to build public trust through accountability. The meeting record does not show a substantive rebuttal or response from board members during public comment.

The board’s action delegates the initial closing responsibilities to staff; Dr. Wilkinson indicated staff may retain an external contractor to complete closing tasks if required. The board did not provide additional public hearing time on the record at this meeting for the schools’ stakeholders.