Horne, Petersen Support Private School Amidst State Board Action

This week, Primavera Charter School‘s CEO, Damian Creamer, held a press conference at the Arizona State Capitol to address the recent move by the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools to revoke the school’s charter due to poor academic performance. Creamer was accompanied by attorney Jesse Binnall, who has previously represented Donald Trump and AZ Senate President Warren Petersen, whose appearance Democrats decried as political. And, while Democrats grouse about Creamer’s choice of attorneys, Republicans argue that the state Charter School Board, under Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs’ direction, is using “lawfare” to punish a school popular with school choice proponents via political action.

Creamer began his statement by emphasizing Primavera’s commitment to serving at-risk students. “Our mission has always been to provide quality education to those who need alternative learning environments.” He expressed concern that the state’s actions could deprive thousands of students of a viable educational option.

Binnall also spoke, framing the board’s decision as an attack on school choice. He argued that the move undermines educational alternatives, asserting, “Instead of getting on board with this policy, you have some people that are trying to use various versions of lawfare…in order to get in the way of school choice.” Binnall also criticized media coverage of Primavera, specifically targeting 12News reporter Craig Harris, stating, “We all know you are not a reporter—you are an activist.”

Senate President Warren Petersen likewise strongly supported Primavera, highlighting the school’s role in providing educational alternatives. He expressed concern that the board’s actions could set a precedent affecting other charter schools, stating, “This is about preserving the right of parents and students to choose the educational path that best suits their needs.”

The press conference underscored the contentious debate surrounding Primavera’s future. While the school faces potential closure due to academic performance issues, supporters argue that such a move would limit educational options for students requiring alternative learning environments. Primavera’s closure would be a massive loss for many non-traditional students, as over 7,000 children attend the charter school.

Part of the issue resulted from Primavera’s incorrect evaluation, which used academic standards reserved for traditional schools rather than the proper criteria intended for alternative schools. This administrative error resulted in the school receiving lower scores than it would have under the correct classification.

“It was an administrative error on our side. It was our fault, and we take full accountability for that, and we are going to correct the record,” Creamer stated.

The Calvin Coolidge Project, a news service focused on providing late-breaking news from around the nation, reported that Superintendent Tom Horne “is working on a plan to overturn the recent action against Online Charter School Operator Primavera.”

However, in response to a request for comment, Horne told the Arizona Globe that the “jurisdiction is with the state board. You need to talk with them. If I were to trespass on their turf, they would resent it.”

Horne’s office issued this formal news release: “The legislature chose to divide jurisdiction regarding charter schools between the Arizona Department of Education and the Charter Board. The current issue is within the jurisdiction of the Charter Board. I have no power or influence over that. If I were to try to influence it, the Charter Board would resent the trespass on their turf, and it would do more harm than good. There is likely to be an appeal to an administrative law judge, and the school needs to marshal its evidence to present to the administrative law judge. If I am asked for any data or other information that the department has, I will, of course, immediately provide it regardless of which side requests it.”

State 48 News spoke with former Primavera parent Ann Adams, who credits the school with helping her daughter graduate when traditional options had failed.

“My daughter wouldn’t have graduated if it weren’t for Primavera,” Adams said. A strong supporter of school choice, she emphasized that alternative schools like Primavera serve a unique and vital role. “Primavera needs to be compared with Chief Hill Learning Academy, which also has low scores but is the public option,” she said, pointing out that both schools serve students with significant challenges.

“These are kids who’ve suffered learning loss due to COVID or have learning disabilities,” Adams explained. “Primavera is necessary for kids who are at risk of not graduating.”

Adams praised the instruction her daughter received, saying, “Primavera did an excellent job of teaching my daughter.” She added that Chief Hill was also a helpful option when her son attended briefly, reinforcing her belief that non-traditional schools are critical lifelines for many families.