The Lewis and Clark County superintendent of schools has dismissed an appeal filed by two parents against the Helena Elementary School District for closing Hawthorne Elementary School, saying she lacks jurisdiction to deal with the matter.

“The School Closure statute does not provide an appeal process to a county superintendent,” County Superintendent Katrina Chaney wrote in her Aug. 4 decision. “The statute vests the authority and discretion to determine what is in the best interests of the students with the trustees of a school district.”

“Based on the foregoing reasons, Petitioners appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,” Chaney wrote.

Hawthorne Elementary School was permanently closed June 10 as the school district faces a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. The 179-studen

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