The Española Military Academy has made its final attempt to keep its doors open.
State Education Department spokeswoman Beverly Friedman confirmed Academy officials submitted a letter Jan. 7 appealing the state Public Education Commission’s Dec. 11 ruling to not renew the school’s charter another five years. The school’s current charter expires June 30, and if the appeal fails, it will not longer be able to function as a public charter school.
State Education Secretary Veronica Garcia will hear the Academy’s appeal at a public hearing Feb. 16, Friedman said. Presiding as a hearing officer, Garcia will hear a 30-minute argument from Academy officials for why the school should stay open and a 30-minute argument from Commission members and Department Charter School Division staff for why it should not. The Commission acted on a Charter School Division recommendation when it revoked the Academy’s charter. No other parties will be allowed to speak for or against the Academy at the hearing. Under state law, Garcia will then have until March 9 to decide whether the Commission’s ruling was “arbitrary and capricious,” whether it violates any court order or state or federal law and whether it would endanger the safety of students. She may either uphold or overturn the Commission’s ruling, and that decision will be final.
Neither the Department nor the Academy provided a copy of the appeal letter before Tuesday evening.
Academy Headmaster Steve Baca said he was “not at liberty to discuss” the appeal.