Corvallis charter schools are window into Oregon system of the independent public schools
 CORVALLIS, Ore. — A dispute between an Oregon charter school and the local school district offers some insights into the complex and sometimes tense relationship between charter schools and their sponsoring districts. After the Philomath School Board voted to close Kings Valley School in early 2001 due to budgetary reasons, community members rallied to save the small, rural school. In September 2001, Kings Valley Charter School opened its doors. With the support of the Philomath School District, it has thrived. The district provided more funding than required by state law and added high school grades. The school's enrollment grew and it has received high marks from the state. A decade later, that relationship has grown strained. This past summer, Kings Valley sued the district, arguing it had withheld some of the money it was owed because of its status as a rural school. The district accused the school of violating its charter and issued a notice to terminate the charter. For three months, they have met to try to resolve their issues, but they are far from an agreement. Scio School District Superintendent Gary Tempel tells The Corvallis  |