The Madison School Board delayed a decision Monday on whether to turn a private Montessori school on the North Side into a public charter school.
Over concerns on a handful of issues, the board voted to refer a five-year contract to bring the tuition-based, private Isthmus Montessori Academy (IMA) into the school district next year as a public, tuition-free school serving children grades 3K through nine.
Members voted 5-2 to refer the contract, asking the school district and IMA to re-examine the attendance area and transportation options, clarify accountability measures and have any waivers to the Madison School District handbook follow the appropriate process.
Some history on aborted independent charter schools in Madison.