http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/NEWS25/807160363/1318/LOCALNEWSFRONT
A public charter school in Hawaii is suing the state Department of Education and others, alleging it was wrongly placed on probation for failing to obtain county permits for its school buildings and for longstanding financial problems. The suit by the Waters of Life New Century Public Charter School alleges the Charter School Review Panel erred when it held a hearing and placed the school on probation, a step that could eventually lead to revoking the school's charter to operate. The suit alleges the state Board of Education never established the legally required rules to place a public charter school on probation or revoke a charter, and therefore the panel had no legal authority to place the school on probation. The suit asks the Hilo Circuit Court to reverse the June 12 probation order. The school has struggled for years to find adequate facilities for its students, and the school's latest challenges emerged after an anonymous complaint was made to the Big Island Fire Department. The panel released an order banning Waters of Life from reopening in the fall unless it had fire code clearances and the required county permits for every building. The school's lawsuit alleges that Waters of Life was singled out for punishment for failing to provide adequate facilities when other Big Island public charter schools have the same problem.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
Date: 07/16/2008
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