(PUEBLO, Colo.) — After a months-long battle against the Pueblo School District 60 (D60) School Board of Education has come to an end, after the Colorado State Board of Education upheld D60’s decision to terminate the charter’s contract.

CHPA is a preparatory academy that was established in 2004, with three schools in Pueblo: Cesar Chavez Academy, Erislia Cruz Middle School, and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High. In January 2025, the D60 Board of Education voted to deny the renewal of Chavez-Huerta Preparatory Academy’s (CHPA) charter contract.

At that time, the D60 Board of Education listed various reasons for denial, including material and contract violations, failing to meet progress toward achievement, and failing to meet accepted standards of fiscal management. Concerns over decreased enrollment that would create a risk of a mid-year school closure and disrupt student learning was also listed as a reason.

Chavez-Huerta denied all statements, and also appealed the board’s decision to the State Board of Education on Feb. 28 and appeared before them on Thursday, May 15.

Earlier in April, CHPA requested D60 to let them apply at a different chartering school, but the school board also denied that.

At the May 15 meeting, D60 Board of Education members and CHPA representatives, and students met in Denver, where they each argued their case. Chavez Huerta Attorney Richard Orona argued that they were never notified of any breaches or issues in the contract.

“We were never put on notice with regard to these alleged breach of contract issues so that we can work our way through it,” said Orona. “So we can have an opportunity to cure it. So we can make sure that we are doing Chavez Huerta and the district what is best for our youth.”

Orona also brought arguments that there was a defective process when coming to a decision, and confirmed that previously, there were issues, but they eliminated multiple members to “fix their problems.”

“Non-renewing a charter is a rare and exceptional remedy,” said D60’s Director Elliot Hood, who also argued that D60 gave CHPA many opportunities to show improvement. Hood said that D60 requested certain financial reports from CHPA, but they were “never” provided. The Board also asked for a contingency plan due to the charter academy’s declining enrollment, but CHPA also did not comply.

Hood further said that CHPA’s application for renewal did not address how the budget could manage potential cuts, and presented growing enrollment for the next three years, even though its current enrollment has declined over the past few years and also didn’t provide how it reached the projections.

Many board members argued that, due to the facts presented, they saw no improvements, and were also worried about a child’s stability if a mid-school-year closure occurred.

“The district has to be looking out for those students who are being served and wanting to make sure that they have a sustainable path forward for their educational attainment,” said State Board Chair Rebecca McClellan.

State Board Member Kristi Burron Brown argued that although the school had issues, a closure should be the last thing considered.

“…I also think that even a charter that appears to be struggling should be given an opportunity to seek another authorizer,” said Burron Brown. “If that other authorizer says no, then they say no and then we have our answer.”

Kristi Burron Brown voted no, as she argued that a school closure should be the last thing considered, and said that CHPA could find another authorizer.

The State Board sided with the D60 Board of Education, with a 7-1 vote. Chavez-Huerta’s charter contract will end on June 30.