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Oklahoma no longer has deal with group trying to open nation’s first public religious school

Board members initially felt like the contract was needed to challenge the school's legality at the federal level.

Oklahoma no longer has deal with group trying to open nation’s first public religious school

Board members initially felt like the contract was needed to challenge the school's legality at the federal level.

LIVE. AND ANDY, THE STATE BOARD THAT SIGNED THE DEAL, THEY FOUGHT FOR IT AT THE OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD HAD BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON TERMINATING THAT CONTRACT EVEN AFTER THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED SAINT ISIDORE WASN’T LEGAL. THEY INITIALLY BELIEVED THE CONTRACT WAS NEEDED TO CHALLENGE THE SCHOOL’S LEGALITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WELL, I WAS ACTUALLY MISTAKEN. OUR ATTORNEYS ACTUALLY CLARIFIED THAT FOR US AND SAYING, ACTUALLY, IT DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE APPEAL IS IN PLACE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS THREATENED A CONTEMPT CHARGE. WHEN THAT BOARD LEFT THE CONTRACT IN PLACE, AS IT STANDS TODAY, THOUGH, THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULING STILL STANDS. SAINT ISIDORE WILL NOT OPEN IN THE FALL AND THE CONTRACT HAS NOW BEEN RESCINDED. LAWYERS FOR THE SCHOOL ARE STILL PETITIONING THE SUPREME COURT, HOPING U.S. SUPREME COURT SUPPORT JUSTICES WILL TAKE ON THE CASE AND EVENTUALLY OVERRIDE THE STATE COURT. THAT’S AT OKLAHOMA CANNOT FUND A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION WHILE THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN TOSSED OUT. THE BOARD DID VOTE TO REINSTATE IT IMMEDIATELY. IF SAINT ISIDORE WINS THEIR LEGAL FIGHT BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREM
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Oklahoma no longer has deal with group trying to open nation’s first public religious school

Board members initially felt like the contract was needed to challenge the school's legality at the federal level.

After months of fighting, Oklahoma no longer has a deal in place with a group trying to open the nation's first public religious school.Oklahoma's Statewide Charter School Board had been dragging its feet on terminating its contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, even after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the school wasn't legal. Board members initially felt like the contract was needed to challenge the school's legality at the federal level."I was actually mistaken. Our attorneys actually clarified and said that it doesn't change anything because the appeal is in place," Brian Shellem, chair of the Statewide Charter School Board, said.Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has threatened a contempt charge when the board left the contract in place. As of Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling still stands, St. Isidore will not open in the fall and the contract has been rescinded."While it is appalling that the Board took so long to recognize the authority of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, I am pleased that board members finally fulfilled their duty," Drummond said in a statement. "The proposed state-sponsored religious charter school, funded by our tax dollars, represents a serious threat to the religious liberty of all four million Oklahomans."Lawyers for the school are still petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping justices will take on the case and eventually override the state court that said Oklahoma cannot fund a religious institution.While the contract has been tossed out, the board voted to reinstate it immediately if St. Isidore wins its legal fight before the U.S. Supreme Court. The State Charter School Board released the following statement after rescinding the contract:"The State Charter Schools Board today at a scheduled meeting rescinded a contract with St. Isadore of Seville Catholic Virtual School following an August 5 ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. That ruling indicated the contract must be rescinded even if parties sought an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s June 25 decision that St. Isadore could not be an authorized school. The Board indicated in its vote today that it would execute a contract with St. Isadore if a winning appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court occurs.” Top Headlines 4 juveniles arrested after leading Oklahoma City police on chase Police identify person shot, killed over weekend at northeast Oklahoma City hotel Fly like Iron Man. Join a battle in Wakanda. Here are the major theme park projects Disney has announced Cleveland County teenager escapes floodwaters after truck was swept away Fourth victim in Sundance Airport plane crash identified as 68-year-old

After months of fighting, Oklahoma no longer has a deal in place with a group trying to open the nation's first public religious school.

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Oklahoma's Statewide Charter School Board had been dragging its feet on terminating its contract with St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, even after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the school wasn't legal. Board members initially felt like the contract was needed to challenge the school's legality at the federal level.

"I was actually mistaken. Our attorneys actually clarified and said that it doesn't change anything because the appeal is in place," Brian Shellem, chair of the Statewide Charter School Board, said.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has threatened a contempt charge when the board left the contract in place. As of Monday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling still stands, St. Isidore will not open in the fall and the contract has been rescinded.

"While it is appalling that the Board took so long to recognize the authority of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, I am pleased that board members finally fulfilled their duty," Drummond said in a statement. "The proposed state-sponsored religious charter school, funded by our tax dollars, represents a serious threat to the religious liberty of all four million Oklahomans."

Lawyers for the school are still petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping justices will take on the case and eventually override the state court that said Oklahoma cannot fund a religious institution.

While the contract has been tossed out, the board voted to reinstate it immediately if St. Isidore wins its legal fight before the U.S. Supreme Court. The State Charter School Board released the following statement after rescinding the contract:

"The State Charter Schools Board today at a scheduled meeting rescinded a contract with St. Isadore of Seville Catholic Virtual School following an August 5 ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. That ruling indicated the contract must be rescinded even if parties sought an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s June 25 decision that St. Isadore could not be an authorized school. The Board indicated in its vote today that it would execute a contract with St. Isadore if a winning appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court occurs.”


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