A new charter school has won a court ruling that will require Conejo Valley Unified School District to allow the school to operate at its Meadows Elementary campus.

Simi Valley Superior Court Judge Worley ruled in favor of Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School last week. Because MATES is a "conversion" charter school, meaning the program had already been established, they have the right to remain at the site.

"The court concludes that the county school board's approval of MATES as a 'conversion charter' rather than a 'startup charter' creates a ministerial duty to locate the school at the Meadows site," Worley said.

The MATES board had been adamant that the law—particularly Proposition 39—required the district to allow them to stay at the Meadows campus. The district staff and Conejo school board believed they just needed to make a site available for them and opted to provide the campus of Glenwood Elementary School.

Marlo Hartsuyker, president of the MATES board, said she was happy about the decision.

"We have maintained all along that the law supports the right of a conversion charter to remain on its original campus," Hartsuyker said. "We are very pleased that Judge Worley upheld the current law as it is written. MATES will open at the former Meadows campus this fall and provide an outstanding public education for the children of this neighborhood and the larger community.

"We are eager to work in good faith with the CVUSD toward the implementation of Judge Worley's ruling," Hartsuyker said.

MATES board member Carlos De Los Rios agreed.

"We are happy to have this issue behind us and to finally devote all our energies toward building a school and program that will be the pride of the community," De Los Rios said.

"We are still accepting applications as space allows," he said.

MATES was created by parents, teachers and community members after the CVUSD school board voted to close Meadows Elementary in March 2008.

The district denied the MATES charter, but it was later approved by the Ventura County Office of Education in October 2008. It will be the first charter school in Conejo Valley when it opens in the fall.

The board didn't discuss the outcome at Tuesday's board meeting, but Superintendent Mario Contini did announce the district wouldn't be appealing the decision. In a closed-session meeting with attorneys before the regular board meeting, Contini said "the board indicated no support of an appeal."

The MATES board members at the meeting expressed their appreciation that the board has chosen not to appeal, saving both sides time and money.

John Hollister, a parent of one Meadows student and two Meadows graduates, urged the MATES board and the district and board members to work together.

"This has been a difficult process for everybody," Hollister said. "I want to encourage both groups—it's time to move on. I'm in awe of the energy of this (MATES) group. Through the fire, the phoenix has risen. Let's hope the ax gets buried now."

Hartsuyker agreed.

"Through this difficult time, we've had our differences," she said. "We have a common goal to promote public education. We want to make this a partnership we can work on."