More battles appear likely for Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TiZA), despite a vote by its board to not appeal a state decision that forced the charter school's closure.
TiZA's board decided Tuesday night that it will proceed with closure and dissolution in bankruptcy court. At a hearing Wednesday morning, however, the school's bankruptcy attorney told a judge that, while the board agreed to cease operations as a Minnesota charter school, TiZA is still "considering other options."
The position surprised many in the Minneapolis courtroom of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Kressel. "I'm not sure what the other options are," Kressel said, pressing for a clearer indication of TiZA's plans.
TiZA attorney Mark Kalla said the school's assets may be liquidated, but also said "I suppose [TiZA] could conceivably continue to operate as some type of school."
Three key potential creditors -- the state Education Commissioner, former authorizer Islamic Relief USA and the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota -- have called for a trustee to oversee TiZA's assets. They have cited "fraud and dishonesty" by the school and raised concerns that money will be funneled to Islamic groups and participants in the school's operations.
TiZA attorney Mark Azman said Wednesday that the school doesn't see the need for a trustee.
ACLU attorney Peter Lancaster said after the hearing that the group is concerned "about any effort to use public money to set up a private Islamic school."
Islamic Relief and the state have both been mired in a lawsuit brought against TiZA by the ACLU, which claims that the public school illegally promoted Islam. The education commissioner and Islamic Relief are both seeking recovery of legal costs from the school, and the ACLU has said it could be entitled to attorneys' fees if it proves its claims.
