School Lane Charter CEO Optimistic But Would Likely Appeal Rejection

The CEO of School Lane Charter School is optimistic of getting approval next week to expand the current K-8 program for high school students.

"I'm hopeful and very optimistic," Karen Schade said Friday. "I feel the school has gotten a very positive response from the ."

But, if that approval does not come, Schade says the township's only charter school would likely appeal to the state.

"If we get a no, we would have to gather 1,000 signatures in order to file an appeal. We would be making that attempt, more than likely," she said.

It wasn't that long ago that things weren't so optimistic.

In June, the school board voted to sue School Lane, claiming the charter school owes the district unpaid annual payments totaling $361,500. Those payments relate to a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program the charter school agreed to when it bought its land from the district in 1998. At issue is a 2009 law that declares some PILOT programs null and void.

Meanwhile in August, School Lane sued the district when it initially required the charter school to file an application for a new charter rather than an amendment to its current charter. An amended charter would allow School Lane eighth-graders to simply matriculate into the new ninth grade and avoid the need for a lottery.

At this point, district officials have not publicly decided whether they would approve an amendment or a new charter.

"We would be thrilled to have an amendment and we would be thrilled to have a new charter, although that's not ideal," Schade said.

Schade said an approval would likely mean the withdrawal of its lawsuit. And, she said, the two sides are still discussing the annual payments the district says it is owed. There has never been a quid pro quo related to either of those issues and the new school application, Schade said.

"That's all sitting off on the side," she said. "We're trying to keep that separate."

Superintendent David Baugh told Patch last week that a School Lane decision is expected this Wednesday. Schade she hasn't been told that but she does plan to attend the school board meeting.

"I'll be there with my fingers crossed that they vote on something , and that it's a yes," she said.

School Lane is eyeing the Glenview Corporate Center across Street Road from Parx Casino for its International Baccalaureate high school. The plan is to start with a ninth-grade class in August, with tenth- through 12th-grade classes beginning in each of the three following years.

There are about 50 eighth-graders who could matriculate into ninth grade if a charter amendment is approved, with hopes of eventually having 100 students in each of the high school grades.

The charter school opened in 1998 and changed its management company and name in 2001.

Wednesday's school board meeting begins at 7:30 pm at the Dorothy Call Administrative Center at 3000 Donallen Drive.