Uprep is closed.

The University Preparatory Charter Academy board held a special meeting today, giving little notice to families who might have wanted to attend.

They voted 3-1 to shut the high school in Eastmont Mall immediately. A number of teachers came, but no parents or students. It’s not clear whether the previously scheduled Saturday meeting will still happen.

Harold Pendergrass (far left) was the only board member who wanted to keep the school open, despite the Oakland school district’s charter revocation notice. He said the school needed a more transparent governing board and a full investigation into the allegations of fraud that have surfaced this month.

“There is considerable interest in trying to preserve the school,” Pendergrass said. “People aren’t running away from the school — maybe everyone except the board.”

But soon the discussion — about a decision that would deeply affect some 400 teenagers — devolved into a back-and-forth between Pendergrass and board president Prentice Deadrick about blame, ego and responsibility.

It went something like this: Read the rest of this entry »