We're compiling signatures for a petition that we'll hand-deliver to the State Board meeting August 13th. We're asking the Board to extend the deadline for our application pool so we can win a charter slot if one becomes open. Otherwise we'll have to wait two more years for the next application process to begin.
Please sign and fax us the petition below. (512) 448-0867

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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Petition for Change of Decision
______________________________________________________________________________

Proposed change (indicate words to be added or deleted from the current text):

Generation 14 applications shall remain open until October 31, 2009.*

Release of Generation 15 applications shall be postponed until November, 2009.*

[*This proposed change is to the decision of the full board as-reported in the official minutes of the November 21, 2008 SBOE Meeting.]

SPECIAL, IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THIS CHANGE: The Chair of the State Board of Education must call a special meeting pursuant to SBOE Operating Rule § 2.2 (in conjunction with the working meeting on August 14, 2009) in order to timely effectuate this proposed change.

Statutory authority for the proposed action:
19 TEX. ADMIN. CODE § 100.1 (2009)
TEXAS EDUC. CODE ANN. § 12.110

Why is this action necessary or desirable?

The School Initiative Committee, charged with selecting a school to fill the last charter slot, never made their selection on Thursday July 16th. Instead, a board member who does not preside on the Committee on School Initiatives nominated a particular school and demanded a vote be taken. While there was dissention among some members, the motion was seconded and Koinonia School was awarded the charter. This, after the fact that a Koinonia representative came to the Friday, July 17th general meeting to make a second plea, in violation of board protocol and after the other applicants had been told to come back in September.
We call for an extension of Generation #14 for 60 days or more. This would allow Chairperson Gail Lowe and the Committee the opportunity to offer charters that may become available to the remaining select schools who did not receive a charter in July.

Affiliation/Organization (if applicable): Austin Community School

Petitioner Name: _________________________Signature__________________________

Address: ______________________________ Austin, Texas _________Telephone: ________