INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Imagine Schools of South Vero won its appeal against the Indian River County School District Friday, clearing the way for the charter school to offer seventh and eighth grades this fall.
The Indian River County School District has two options available, approve the expansion or appeal the State Board of Education’s ruling to the First District Court of Appeals.
“This is a great victory for our parents,” Imagine Schools of South Vero Principal Joe Mills said. He said he hopes to have the expansion plans on the next school board agenda in April so that the school and its parents will know whether they can plan for the fall. The seventh- and eighth-grade classes are expected to be housed within the school’s current structure.
There are approximately 60 sixth-graders enrolled at Imagine Schools of South Vero who will either attend the seventh grade at the charter school in the fall or find some other school to attend.
“We’re very excited,” Mills said of the State Board of Education seeing the value of offering choices to parents.
Indian River County School District spokeswoman Patty Vasquez confirmed the State Board of Education’s ruling, adding that she could not comment further as she had not yet had time to speak with Superintendent Dr. Harry La Cava.
Imagine Schools of South Vero has been in operation for 1 1/2 years, according to Mills, and has an enrollment of about 600 students.
The Indian River County School Board denied the school’s original charter, which Imagine Schools appealed to State Board of Education. The state board overruled the school district, allowing Imagine Schools to open a campus in the county.