Saying it was the only way to protect the school, members of the parents association and the principal of Harrison School for the Visual and Performing Arts presented an application for charter school status to the Polk County School Board last week.

The move stirred up what had been a rather routine presentation of seven charter school applications at Aug. 21 work session. Some board members expressed disappointment that the controversy between Harrison and Lakeland High School hasn’t been settled and that Harrison supporters felt it necessary to ask for charter status.