St. Paul charter school Community School of Excellence came close to closing but was able to submit a contract with a new authorizer, the Minnesota Guild, just hours before its Friday deadline.

After a chaotic month, the school needed an authorizer by July 1 to continue operating. The school and the Minnesota Guild signed a contract, which was sent to the Minnesota Department of Education on Friday, according to an e-mail to staff by the school's CEO, Bao Vang.

The school's future was in doubt after school leaders announced program restructurings and teacher firings in the first week of June. Teachers said the move looked like an attempt to bust their new union. The Minnesota Guild, a charter school operator that had planned to become the school's authorizer, put its plans on hold, saying the changes were too substantive.

Teachers later said some jobs were reinstated. Vang said last week that of the eight teachers fired, three will be reinstated.

Also last week, teachers reached a tentative contract agreement with the school, and Guild director Brad Blue said that was an encouraging sign. Union members ratified the contract Wednesday.

Community School of Excellence is approximately 90 percent Hmong and 10 percent Karenni, according to Rob Aurand, union treasurer. Karenni people are an ethnic minority from Myanmar. The K-8 school is on the larger side for charters in the state, with about 1,000 students.

Beena Raghavendran 612-673-4569