Allison Crean Davis, vice chair, Baxter Academy board of directors: "We're here today trying to make sure people understand the positives of this whole story."
Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, Portland's first charter school is looking for a new executive director.
Allison Crean Davis: "It was yesterday. We worked for about two weeks tirelessly to negotiate with him to resolve it in a very peaceful and hopefully mutually appropriate way. Unfortunately, he walked about from the negotiations and decided to bring this to the press."
John Jaques, the founder and executive director of the school was fired Thursday after the board of directors said he mismanaged the school's finances for months.
Allison Crean Davis: "The issue is that without the correct funding, not only can you not start up a school, but you literally cannot sign a lease...which was imminent and also our charter contract."
The board says donors were starting to worry about Jaques leadership too, some even threatened to stop funding the school.
On Thursday, a statement by Jaques was posted on the school's website.
John Jaques, former executive director: "I believe the board of directors has acted inappropriately and unethically. It feels like the board has sold me and the school's students out."
The board of directors at Baxter Academy say they will still open doors this fall, with an executive director in place. They believe that the decision to let Jaques go was the best for the future of the school."
Allison Crean Davis: "Once those things are in place with the solid financing and the right team in place, I think we'll be in a stronger position than ever to really be successful."
Despite these changes, the school says they are still set to open in September. John Jaques agreed to an interview with us before deciding to back out. Jaques denies posting the statement online, it has since been taken down.
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