Schaefer Calls on TEA to Hold Off on Revocation of Azleway�s Charter

TYLER — Following an announcement that an administrative law judge has upheld the revocation of Azleway Charter School�s charter by the Texas Education Agency, State Rep. Matt Schaefer is calling on Michael Williams, Texas commissioner of education, to hold off on the revocation of the charter due to pending litigation. Azleway currently has an appeal pending with the Third Court of Appeals in Austin and Schaefer says he feels that the timing of the revocation would be harmful to all parties involved, including Chapel Hill ISD, which would absorb many Azleway students.

�Students at Azleway have already started school for the year,� Schaefer said in a news release, �and with Chapel Hill ISD getting ready to start school next week, there is not enough time for them to prepare for additional students. They have not had a chance to get the personnel and resources in place to take on this additional responsibility.�

Schaefer says he believes that any action taken should be done with the best interest of the students in mind. �A tremendous amount of harm could be done by moving responsibility for these students on such short notice after school has already started,� he said. �If the revocation does take place, there should be a formal transition plan which gives everyone involved adequate time to prepare.�

Since Azleway only serves at-risk students, Schaefer says he believes the campus should not be evaluated under the same standards as other charter schools, and that Azleway school operations should continue either due to a favorable court decision, or legislative action in 2015. Ultimately, Schaefer says he believes Williams has discretion in the matter. �There are serious issues in the pending litigation that should be resolved before TEA acts,� Schaefer said. �I hope Commissioner Williams will use the discretion inherent in his office to serve the best interests of Azleway students.�

Meanwhile, there’s some campus reaction after the Tuesday judicial ruling. Dan Hall, who’s spent a year as a history teacher at Azleway, tells KETK, “It’s a death sentence for us, we can’t afford to stay open with the private funding, so might as well say we’re done, shut the doors.” Hall moved his family to East Texas for his current position — and at this point in the year, there aren’t many teaching positions available. “Most schools already have all their teachers lined up, in place, ready to go. There’s no more openings, so what am I gonna do?” wonders Hall. He challenges the TEA decision, adding, “I don’t understand half of what TEA does. The word needs to get out that there are things going on with TEA that are just not right.”

Hall adds that Azleway’s students aren’t like most; they are often a group not wanted by other school districts. He says, “It’s a place where students, children, boys and girls can get a second chance. We are not just a school we’re a ministry as well.” He says the latest decision will not only force teachers like himself to find other means of income but will also leave many students stranded.