LAUPAHOEHOE, Hawaii: The back and forth continues at Laupahoehoe Charter School.

On  Thursday, opponents of the plan to convert the Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School into a public charter school rejoiced, when the Hawaii Charter School Review Panel voted unanimously against opening the charter school in the 2012-13 school year, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii CSRP previously voted to deny granting the charter to the school, but was overruled when the Laupahoehoe Interim Local School Board appealed to the Board of Education. The BOE granted the charter, and from that point on the community – residents, teachers and parents – has been sharply divided.

The CSRP threatened to revoke the charter during its last meeting because the Interim Local School Board did not hold an election by September as written in the charter’s Detailed Implementation Plan, nor did the interim School Board hold an election in November, as directed by the CSRP.

However, supporters of the charter school believe a charter revocation would have again been appealed to the Board of Education. It is unclear if this decision can be appealed in the same fashion.

The Interim Local School Board still has not given up. The group issued the following media release on Friday:

On December 8, 2011, the Hawaii Charter School Review Panel (CSRP) tripped over itself, again, in unlawfully taking action against the charter of the Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School (LCPCS). Without hearing from LCPCS Interim Local School Board members who were present at the Panel’s meeting, acting contrary to agenda information previously provided to the charter school, and following an illegal “executive session”, the Panel violated multiple State laws and greatly exceeded its own authority by trying to delay the opening of the charter school.

The charter school will seek immediate relief from the State Board of Education and expects that the school will open July 1, 2012 as lawfully scheduled.

LCPCS is now accepting letters of interest and resumes from qualified teachers. Inquiries regarding student registration or employment should be directed to info@laupahoehoecharterschool.com. Go to www.laupahoehoecharterschool.org for more information on LCPCS.

When asked about their next move at this recent meeting in Hilo, BOE Vice Chair, and local attorney, Brian DeLima said, “I’m going to follow the law. Period. And that’s the oath I took.”