Lawsuit cost SD 227, charter school nearly $300K

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Blondean Davis

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:38AM

During a lengthy legal battle pitting Rich Township High School District 227 against Southland College Prep Charter High School, the two sides spent nearly $300,000 in attorney fees, records show.

But officials on both sides said the expenses were justified because they were fighting for their students’ educational futures.

District 227 filed a lawsuit in June 2010 to prevent the charter school from opening, saying the school would siphon about $2 million per year from the district in state aid, adversely affecting student performance. After the Illinois Appellate Court in December upheld a Cook County judge’s ruling allowing the charter school to stay open, District 227 officials announced in January they would not further pursue the lawsuit.

During the 18 months of litigation, Southland College Prep paid its two law firms about $122,000 in attorney fees, according to records. District 227 paid its law firm about $162,000.

District 227 Board President Betty Owens said Wednesday the fight was worth it despite the legal and financial losses.

“It was money well spent because we were pursuing the right for all of our students to get a quality education,” Owens said. “At this point, we’re cutting budgets very thinly and it’s going to be a struggle for us.”

Still, Owens said she was pleased to be done with the lawsuit.

“We will move forward with the best resources we have,” she said.

Southland College Prep chief executive officer Blondean Davis said the legal fees were worth the cost of keeping the charter school open.

“I did not anticipate this fight, but once it became a reality, then whatever the cost. ... I felt it was worth it because we’re fighting for the future of these children,” Davis said. “The amount of energy and time off of our task cannot be quantified. All of us are supposed to be concentrating on the academic achievement of the children.”