The Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board is set to reconvene tomorrow in an effort to reach the five votes required to approve the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School. The board’s earlier 4‑3 vote fell short of the threshold, leaving the school’s future in limbo.
Legal pressure mounts
Peter Deutsch, founder of the National Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School Foundation, sent a letter to board chairman Brian Shellem warning that the board could face judicial relief, including contempt of court and potential personal liability for board members who remain defiant. Deutsch cited conflicting rulings – an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that has historically been unfavorable to religious charter schools and a recent federal judge’s opinion that reached a different conclusion – and urged the board to seek clarification to avoid prolonged litigation.
Board’s response and options
Attorney AJ Ferate, representing the Statewide Charter School Board, confirmed that a new meeting will be held to try to secure the fifth vote. “Because the board is required to get to five votes one way or the other, we are going to have a meeting tomorrow, and see if we can get to five votes,” Ferate said.
Ferate also noted that the school could waive enrollment requirements for a year, allowing it to gather enough students to become a viable institution. “They are allowed to waive for a year, and try to get together the number of students they’d need to be a viable strong school,” he explained.
Parental concerns and enrollment impact
In his letter, Deutsch expressed worry that uncertainty surrounding the school’s approval is causing parents to hesitate. “While I remain confident about the long‑term success of Ben Gamla in Oklahoma, I have already been forced to reduce Ben Gamla’s anticipated opening enrollment to 10 students due to parental concerns about whether the school could be shuttered due to outside litigation,” he wrote.
Potential delays even if approved
Ferate warned that even a favorable vote would not guarantee an immediate opening. The school would still need to satisfy contracting obligations, a process that could take an indefinite amount of time. “Then what begins is a contracting period — they have to meet all of the contracting obligations, and that is an indefinite amount of time,” he said.
What’s at stake
The Ben Gamla charter school aims to provide a faith‑based education that integrates Jewish studies with a standard curriculum, offering families a school‑choice option that aligns with their religious values. Supporters argue that the school expands educational diversity and parental‑rights choices, while critics raise concerns about the separation of church and state.
The upcoming board meeting will determine whether the school can move forward or whether further legal battles will ensue. Stakeholders on both sides are watching closely, as the outcome could set a precedent for future religious charter school applications in Oklahoma.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
