University of St. Thomas Named MSSPA Authorizer

The University of St. Thomas will be authorizer for the 2011-2012 school year, according to a news release from the school.

The Minnesota Department of Education has notified the school that it has approved the application for St. Thomas to take over as authorizer from Hopkins Public Schools.

Authorizers are the organizations that sponsor charter schools. They don’t run the charters, but the schools are required to have them. A Main Street School of Performing Arts committee began searching for a new authorizer in 2009—talking with as many as eight potential authorizers.

Main Street School of Performing Arts Executive Director Barbara Wornson stated in the news release that the new partnership will bring a number of benefits for both organizations.

Details of the contract between Main Street School of Performing Arts and St. Thomas will be finalized in the next few weeks. All details will be in place for the 2011-2012 school year.