Judge rules for Warren charter school

WARREN, Mich. – A new charter school in Warren will open next month after winning a court decision in its dispute with the city, according to The Macomb Daily.

Michigan Collegiate – formerly referred to as Conner Creek Academy East – will start classes Sept. 2 despite the city's strenuous objections. The city has cited concerns about traffic congestion and impact on the surrounding area, according to an article in The Macomb Daily.

The 60,000-square-foot facility will house about 450 students in grades 7-12, consolidating two facilities in Roseville at the Warren site. An elementary school in Roseville will remain open.

"We're moving along, almost done; we have final inspections coming up this month," Collegiate Superintendent Charles Meredith was quoted in the article.

Judge David Viviano rejected the City of Warren's motion of reconsideration of his prior decision to allow the school to open. The city has argued that the property is not large enough to accommodate the traffic and school operations. In the motion to reconsider, the city claimed that state Superintendent of Instruction Michael Flanagan usurped the city's local legislative control by allowing the academy to open. Viviano said the city should have raised that issue in its original suit and that a new argument cannot be introduced during reconsideration.

Warren City Attorney Dave Richards said the city likely will appeal.

SOURCE:
The Macomb Daily, "Charter school set to open," Aug. 7, 2008

FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Should Michigan lift the cap on public charter schools? Yes," Nov. 1, 2006