WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Parents, students and supporters of the Benjamin Banneker Charter School of Technology staged a protest at the University of Central Missouri after the university's board of governors voted not to renew the school's sponsorship.
Three buses were parked at Banneker Friday morning to transport the parents and students to Warrensburg. The student held signs and chanted as they hit the highway.
Regina Williams is a Banneker parent and she wants to help the school send a clear message.
"This is a step to let them know we are serious about our children's education. And we're serious about this and really need their support," said Williams.
The superintendent of the school, Marian Brown said they were shocked when UCM revoked its sponsorship.
"We were simply in a remediation plan. Having the door shut in our face by this sponsor was exactly a surprise. It was definitely not very lucid move. It wasn't very clear to me or to our parents that this was coming," said Brown.
According to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors, the decision to revoke sponsorship was based on the school's inability to meet academic criteria to meet Missouri statutes and UCM guidelines.
Vickie Hughes is the director of the Office of Charter Schools at UCM.
"It's always based on a performance contract that every sponsor has with each school sponsor," said Hughes. "It was the persistent low performance of the students that made this decision."
Brown said Banneker is actively seeking another sponsor.
The current contract expires June 30, 2018.
