Montgomery County Public Schools leaders sounded the death knell for the district’s only charter school.

In a 6-2 vote Thursday, the MCPS board revoked MECCA Business Learning Institute’s charter, effectively forcing the months-old campus to close at the end of the school year.

The Germantown charter school has struggled with special education compliance, finances and staffing since it opened in the fall.

Its well-documented woes led to an enrollment nosedive. The school began the year with more than 200 students, but only about 70 remain.

Advertise with us

As part of the school dissolution plan, district staff will identify middle school options for the students enrolled at MBLI.

The school’s saga may not be over, with charter leaders indicating they will fight back. They’ve repeatedly defended themselves in front of the school board and sought state intervention.

Members of charter leadership did not speak at Thursday’s meeting, and they did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

Board Vice President Brenda Wolff questioned whether the district presented enough evidence to support revoking the charter. She and board President Grace Rivera-Oven were the two votes against revocation.

“I struggle with this as a matter of due process. I really do,” Wolff said.

It would’ve been fair, she added, to give charter leaders a full year to figure out their compliance issues.