Superintendent-elect Dr. Robert Franklin said he is opposed to the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School application, while the Statewide Charter School Board continues its legal efforts for clarity on the case.
Superintendent-elect Dr. Robert Franklin said he is opposed to the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School application, while the Statewide Charter School Board continues its legal efforts for clarity on the case.
Superintendent-elect Dr. Robert Franklin said he is against the application for Ben Gamla, a proposed taxpayer-funded Jewish online charter school.
Franklin cited the importance of separating faith and public education as outlined in the state's constitution.
"Our state's constitution reminds us that we keep that separate," Franklin said. "When I was on the virtual charter board, I voted no on the archdiocese. I would vote no on the Ben Gamla case. I would hope that our state's constitution holds that water, and if we want to change the state constitution, that's a different matter."
>> Video Below: Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board votes to appeal federal ruling on proposed Jewish school
Franklin did not attend Thursday's Statewide Charter School Board meeting, where members discussed the case in executive session. The board voted to continue pursuing an appeal to the Tenth Circuit regarding the preliminary injunction.
"We would like to have clarity from federal and state court, and we seem to be kind of ping-pong-balling around, so what we are going to do is seek that action," said Brian Shellem, chairman of the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board.
After the meeting, one of the board's attorneys emphasized the board's commitment to following the law.
"The board just really wants to come to a resolution and comply with whatever the law is," said Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for the board. "They're very strong believers in the rule of law. They want to make sure whatever the law is, that that's what they are going to comply with."
The next statewide charter school board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 14.
> > Video Below: Oklahoma charter school board to reconsider vote on Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School