Moscow charter school officially dissolved

LEWISTON — The Renaissance Charter School in Moscow is officially dissolved, but supporters say they were put out of business by an uncooperative local school district.

By a 4-1 vote, the Idaho State Board of Education on Thursday upheld the Moscow School District’s revocation of the school’s charter. The school had 52 students.

“We’re done,” said Diana Smith, vice president of the Renaissance board of directors. “There’s no alternative.”

But Smith also said she thought the Moscow district was averse to charter schools in general because they take money away from traditional schools.

“I think they have a basic, fundamental opposition to charter schools,” she said. “It’s not a philosophical question. It’s not a question of serving students well. It’s a question of money.”

State Board member Karen McGee of Pocatello cast the sole vote in opposition to the others who acted to dissolve the school. Board members Blake Hall of Idaho Falls and Paul Agidius of Moscow were absent.

Smith had traveled to the state board’s regular meeting Thursday at the College of Southern Idaho to make a last ditch appeal for the school.

But board members cited the school’s record of low achievement and financial problems in denying the appeal.

The board could have referred the appeal to the new statewide charter school commission, but with the school year two weeks away, there was not enough time.

“Now my 14-year-old son will have to go to Moscow Junior High, and that makes me want to throw up,” Smith said. “Now we have to send our kids to a school that puts athletics on a pedestal, and everything catering to it.”

Renaissance bought its curriculum from K-12, a private, for-profit company founded by former U.S. Education Secretary Bill Bennett.

Board member Sue Thilo of Coeur d’ Alene said she favors school choice and admires the passion of the parents and organizers who tried to keep Renaissance alive.