The crowd listens as school board members vote on the proposed charter school. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

Rules of order didn’t seem to carry much weight Tuesday night as the Brookings-Harbor School Board voted on a proposed  charter school and, as a result, several people in the audience, charter school proponents, and one or two board members seemed unsure of what exactly they voted for ... or against. 

The meeting was the latest in a series for the organizers of the proposed Riverside Charter Academy, which would emphasize an alternative learning method. The school board was required to cast an up or down vote on the proposal as it stood.

Amendments and amended amendments flew around the room as the audience of about 60 watched the school board go from a 3-2 vote for the proposal to a 4-1 defeat.

What seemed to swing the stance were two amendments: one to protect staff status and district funding, and the second to locate the school within the school property, thus saving a significant amount of money. 

It was unclear to at least one board member and proponents of the charter school whether the board voted on the proposal, or on a motion to amend the location of the charter school to an off-site location.

“That wasn’t legal,” Riverside Charter Academy project director Annette Klinefelter-Dingle said. “The charter proposal does not stipulate a location. We will appeal. I’m disgusted.”

At first, it appeared that the board would vote 3-2 in favor of the proposal after board member Bob Horel began the meeting by making a motion to “approve the application subject to negotiations between administrators and the school to protect the status of the staff and to provide sufficient funding for the district.”

Board member Carol Slewing then asked to make an amendment to Horel’s motion to read “approval of the charter school with the stipulation that it is not housed in Azalea Middle School.”

Board member Allene Fewell also supported the amendment.

“I’ve heard more for the charter school than against it,” she said. “Parents want their kids to have options.”

Fewell and Horel both supported Slewing’s amendment.

Board Chair Jamie Ryan and board member Brad Peters did not. 

“I think it would be recklessly irresponsible, and I cannot in any way support that,” Ryan said.  

Peters shared a similar view.

“We’re not protecting what we’re here for: the district and the students,” Peters said. “It’s a free enterprise. Let them fail on somebody else’s dime. It doesn’t need to  be at the finances of this district.”

Initially, the room was quiet as nearly 60 audience members waited for the vote. 

But audience members quickly became agitated as they grew confused over the amendments to the amendments.

The tide turned after the final proposed amendment: to locate the charter school off district property. 

Horel and Fewell changed their vote when this stipulation was added. 

Slewing ultimately cast the sole vote in favor of the charter school.

Efforts for the proposed charter school began more than a year ago, and the charter school has been the topic of numerous school board meetings, workshops and outside presentations over the past few months.

The charter school planning team submitted its proposal in mid-September, and it was deemed complete by the school board on Sept. 27.

On Nov. 3, the  board held a public hearing during which 12 people spoke in favor of the school, and four against it.

Most recently, at the Nov. 16 school board meeting, the charter school was added to the agenda at the last minute. At that time, many people spoke in opposition to the school.

Even with the proposal being disapproved Tuesday night, there are still some options available for charter school proponents.

The planning team can resubmit a modified proposal –   which Klinefelter-Dingle said the planning team will do. The board must approve or disapprove a modified proposal within 20 days of resubmission.

If the resubmitted proposal is denied, the planning team can submit a request for a review of the decision by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). ODE would attempt to mediate a resolution. 

If the mediation is unsuccessful, the planning team could seek State Board of Education sponsorship. ODE would have 180 days to make a decision.