Mountain Iron's ERATS to Close After Authorizer Declines Charter Renewal

East Range Academy of Technology and Science will close at the end of the current school year after its authorizer, Osprey Wilds, declined to renew the school's charter contract, Executive Director Noel Cordero announced Jan. 30. The Mountain Iron charter serves students in grades 9–12; students' final day of classes is scheduled for May 20 and the school's fiscal year ends June 30.

Cordero said the school was unable to meet contractual obligations "due to years of mismanagement and lack of governance and oversight outside my control." In a letter announcing the closure, Cordero wrote: "I have always had the best interest of my students at heart when making decisions, and will continue to do so working towards a solution that will work for both you as families and for the students that I love and care for so deeply." He also asked families to remain patient as staff "work out a plan for everyone involved in the next couple of weeks" and said administrators "will still work with your students and push them to be the best they can for the remainder of the year as we plan to move forward." Cordero declined to comment further in a phone interview and said additional announcements are expected in the coming months.

The announcement did not specify which contractual obligations were not met. A charter school authorizer is "an oversight entity that approves, monitors and renews or closes charter schools," and Osprey Wilds is authorized by the Minnesota Department of Education to oversee and evaluate charter schools across Minnesota. The non-renewal by Osprey Wilds effectively requires the school to close at the end of the school year, the statement said.

Public records on file list a prior charter contract titled "Audubon Center of the North Woods - East Range Academy of Technology and Science Charter Contract: July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022." ERATS bylaws, adopted October 5, 2011, set out the school's governance framework. The bylaws state that board members "shall be the only members therefore, and persons elected to the Board of Directors shall automatically become members of ERATS for the duration of their terms as directors," that board structure must follow state statute, and that at every members' meeting "each member present shall have the right to cast one vote on each question and never more than one vote." The bylaws assign operational duties, noting that "The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors" and that "The treasurer shall oversee all funds, property, and securities of ERATS" and "shall also serve as the chair of the School Board Finance Committee."

The available materials leave key practical questions unanswered for families and staff. The announcement did not identify which contractual requirements were cited in the non-renewal, and the contract excerpts on file end June 30, 2022, creating an incomplete public record of the school's most recent authorization and renewal timeline. Officials have said discussions are ongoing about next steps but have not released a teach-out plan, guidance on diploma or transcript transfers, or details about staff transitions.

For Mountain Iron students and families, the immediate priorities are continuity of instruction through May 20, transfer of records and credits, and clarity on graduation and special education services. School leaders have signaled more information will come in the coming weeks and months; county education partners and the authorizer will be the next sources to watch for concrete plans and timelines.