TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County has now filed an emergency motion to shut down the Charter School Walton Academy.

The school board voted on Tuesday to end its contract with the school after the Florida Department of Education found a number of safety concerns.

Despite the vote and motion in court, the school remained open on Thursday.

An attorney for the school issued a statement:

Walton Academy for the Performing Arts is deeply concerned by the actions of the Hillsborough County School Board and intends to pursue all available legal recourse.

Florida law allows a charter school to remain open during the pendency of this type of appeal unless and until its Sponsor obtains an injunction. All alleged safety violations of the School were cured before the School Board’s decision to terminate the School, and there is no danger to students.

Accordingly, Walton Academy remains open at this time. Any attempt by the School Board to close the school before a court order has been issued is inconsistent with Florida law.” Walton Academy for the Performing Arts is deeply concerned by the actions of the Hillsborough County School Board and intends to pursue all available legal recourse.

Emily R. Rodriguez, Esq. The Arnold Law Firm.

Parents are defending the school, saying it should remain open.

“I’ve had children in actual other public schools as well, and guess what, my children were not only below but they were left behind as well and they had to keep taking the same standardized test over and over again,” said Stephanie Hicks who has children attending the school.
However, school board member Nadia Combs says there are a number of safety and other issues at the school.

“I mean, this has been months and months, they’ve been told and warned, and then obviously the interior of the school, the roof falling, the droppings, and the mold. That’s such an unhealthy environment for our students,” said Combs.

She says an audit shows the husband of the principal owns the building where the school is and is being paid thousands of dollars to maintain it.

“When you look at the condition of the school and the landlord is the husband and they are making $12,000 a month, how can they not correct that? I saw that it was $255,000 spent on the plant, so I would think the first thing you would take care of is the safety, the perimeter,” said Combs.

She says the school only has one certified teacher, and 90 percent of the students are reading below grade level.

“Most importantly, the safety is why we are closing, that is the reason we’re closing is for safety, but what type of future do students have, and when you look at the audi, it’s astounding to see that the husband is the landlord of that horrible building,” said Combs.

A hearing will be held on the emergency motion to shut the school down.

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