York City School District, charter school square off on appeal

(York) -- The battle is heating up between a York charter school and the York City School District.

The New Hope Academy Charter School has filed a formal appeal to the state's Charter Appeal Board following the York City School District's decision not to renew its charter earlier this year.

New Hope Chief Academic Officer Karen Schoonover says a letter from the district stated the charter was required to disband since it didn't appeal the move not to renew within 30 days. She says no law dictates how much time a charter school has to file such appeals.

"Closing a charter school happens through the state, not through the local school district, so this was based on bad information on their part. Additionally, this was not good for the community, nor was it good for the students."

An attorney for the district says he believes there's case law supporting the 30-day requirement.

But York Mayor Kim Bracey says she's discouraged about the public way the dispute is playing out.

She says the district didn't adhere to state regulations.

"I'm in disgust, to be quite honest. There's a system in place to hear out the appeals, or the whole charter schools processes, and I don't believe the York City School District, right now, allowed that to play out."

Bracey says the bickering looks bad for the city and is disappointed with the district.

The district has said it will enroll the nearly 800 students who attend New Hope.