Tuesday, August 17, 2010
education Nampa Classical Academy Loses Appeal, Will Close
Posted by George Prentice on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 5:08 PM
Right about 3 p.m., Aug. 17, 2010, the Idaho State Board of Eduction put the question to the Nampa Classical Academy:
"Please address the issue of trust and how anyone can trust you going forward."
Less than two hours later, unable to convince the majority of the board that they could be trusted, officials with NCA saw its charter revocation upheld, thus ending all state funding for the school and putting an end to a tumultuous year.
In September 2009, NCA opened its doors to 500 students, instantly becoming one of the largest charter schools in Idaho. In a matter of months, its controversial proposal to introduce the Bible and religious texts into the classroom was challenged. Then the state charter commission questioned credentials of some of the schools top administrators. Ultimately NCA's financial instability was blamed for a revocation of the school's charter.
The school immediately appealed to the State Board of Education, but Tuesday by a 4-3 vote, NCA's appeal was denied. The decision will close the school.
Voting to deny the appeal were board members Emma Atchley, Kenneth Edmunds, Don Soltman and Richard Westerberg. Siding with the charter school and voting to uphold the appeal were Rod Lewis, Milford Terrell and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
Just want to say "THANKS" for shutting down a school that had an excellent ciriculum and teachers! Board members Emma Atchley, Kenneth Edmunds, Don Soltman and Richard Westerberg deserve a special thanks now that my son will be in the standard Govt school where the documents such as the Constitution and the Bill of rights rate a short paragraph in their textbooks! Let's get ready to Dumb 'em down!
THANKS AGAIN to Emma Atchley, Kenneth Edmunds, Don Soltman and Richard Westerberg!
Joe Wollman
like
dislike
My son received the special care and instruction he needed as a higher functioning autistic. The blame should be spread here on all sides. Both to those who could not bend when it came to what needed to be done to keep the school open and to those who sought the proverbial witchhunt and overpursued the point until there was no other outcome but what they sought. Ultimately, it is our children who suffer due to politics and religion. 2 things our forefathers had intertwined in the creation of this country and seemed to have no issue with. Freedom? I don't think so.
Richard Calleros
This is the most disgusting show of leadership I've ever seen. Way to go State Board of Ed. You just dumped on nearly 600 students. The opportunities they had were limitless with NCA! It was the most amazing Academy i have ever seen!!! Incredible leaders were in the making for our State and Country; and you just cut them off at the knees.
Thanks for that ! I always say "what comes around goes around". Making a very poor decision such as this will come back to haunt you I'm afraid.
- Chris
Am I understanding correctly, that the charter school was closed down because the bible (allong with other religious text) would be used as a reference book? There is nothing in the constitution that would prohibit this.
Doesn't a charter school have the freedom to decide what will be taught, while serving a need in the community that is not currently being met in the public schools ( like the exercise of the freedom to include a belief in God as part of the curriculum without endorsing any specific religion in the classroom freely) if that is what the school chooses to do as a part of meeting that need, and the majority of the community that it is designed to serve is in favor of the educational direction of the school?
Can someone explain to me how this decision is constitutional, and where in the constitution it prohibits any school (private or public) from using religious texts as references-someone who has actually read the constitution and can show me where it is prohibited in the constitution (not based on an eroneous interpretation of the intent of the constitution when it comes to religious freedom)?
- Home |
- About BW and FAQ |
- Contact Us |
- BW Classifieds |
- Submit an Event |
- Advertise |
- Post a FREE Ad |
- Subscribe |
- BW Feedback |
- Privacy Policy |
- Submission Guidelines |
- Code of Ethics |
-
|
-
|
- BW Local Guide |
-
|
-
|
- Job Opportunities |
- National Advertising |
- Check Out Food, Music, and Art in Other Cities
