CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A public hearing will be held Friday morning to help determine whether two charter schools will open in Montgomery County.

Both charter schools – American Classical Academy Montgomery and Oxton Academy – applied to open charter schools here, and both were rejected by the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board.

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The schools’ organizers appealed to the Tennessee Charter Commission to overturn the decision, and at this hearing all sides will make their case. “The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission’s decision on appeal shall be final and not subject to further appeal,” the commission’s website announcing the hearing states.

A local news conference and protest is planned prior to the hearing.

Called “Stop the Hillsdale Heist!” the event will be at 8:15 a.m. outside the Central Office at 621 Gracey Ave. with three speakers planned, including political candidates. It’s sponsored by Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Association.

“The (CMCSS) School Board rejected their application, and the Tennessee Charter Commission has been having meetings to have that decision overturned,” organizer Rosa Ponce told Clarksville Now. “They have limited participants to 15 people. How do we even know these are people who live in the county?”

Several charter applications from schools affiliated with Michigan-based Hillsdale College, including American Classical Academy Montgomery, were denied in Middle Tennessee just weeks after that college’s president made disparaging comments about teachers.

CMCSS leaders have said that while the comments were insulting, the charter applications were denied because they failed to meet standards.

The hearing will start at 9 a.m. in the School Board chambers.

No decision will be made at the hearing. The commission will continue to accept written public comments until 1 p.m. on Sept. 23, and their decision will come some time after that date.

Adria Hyde contributed to this report.