LAUPAHOEHOE, Hawaii: A lawsuit that could have delayed the conversion of Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School into a public charter school has been dismissed in court.

The following message was distributed by supporters of the charter school:

On April 18th, Hawaii State Third Circuit Court Judge Glenn S. Hara granted the joint motion of the Hawaii State Board of Education (BOE) and Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School (LCPCS) to dismiss the action filed by the Hawaii State Teachers’ Association (HSTA), Robert Beekman and Andrea Wilson that attempted to block the opening of the Charter School. Laupahoehoe Alumni and Community Association joined BOE and LCPCS in the motion to dismiss.

Judge Hara ruled that the HSTA, Mr. Beekman and Mrs. Wilson had no standing to present claims on appeal from the BOE’s January 24th order for the Charter School to hold local school board elections on or before September 30 2012. The BOE decision and order also provided for LCPCS to open in the 2012-2013 school year.

An increasing number of parents of prospective students from across the island have already contacted Loida Navalta, Administrative Consultant for the Charter School. LCPCS, which opens its doors to students on August 1 2012 has room for more than 400 students and anticipates an increase in enrollment over the current year .

Many incoming students are excited about the partners and new programs that will be offered at the Charter School. For information about enrolling new students, contact Loida Navalta by email at info@laupahoehoecharterschool.com or call 808-430-8699. For more information about LCPCS, go to the website (www.laupahoehoecharterschool.com). Questions and concerns about the charter school may be presented at the public Interim Local School Board meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm (the website will list the most up to date information).

Many of the teachers that currently work under the Department of Education at Laupahoehoe have been placed in other DOE schools in the area.