Community members, including NeSmith, urged the school's 11-member board to remove Sullivan, but NeSmith said he was informed yesterday by Lehua Kanahele, president of the school's board, that the board had voted Monday to keep her.

A meeting that had been scheduled for yesterday afternoon to allow parents and the community to discuss the issue was canceled after the school's board decided its Monday session had been sufficient, NeSmith said.

State Board of Education chairman Breene Harimoto said he is extremely concerned about the situation at the school.

"I did send a letter to their board (president), urging them to act responsibly. As a local school board, they are accountable and responsible," Harimoto said last night.

Kula Aupuni Niihau A Kahelelani Aloha's roughly 35 students in kindergarten through Grade 12 are taught in English, but come from families with ties to Ni'ihau. For many students, Ni'ihau Hawaiian is their first language.

The school's quiet existence was thrown into uproar with the conviction of Sullivan last week after she pleaded guilty to two assault counts for beating her son. She is to be sentenced in 5th Circuit Court on May 22, and faces up to five years in prison on each count.

Kanahele said last week that Sullivan's personal activities at home had no bearing on her work at the school. Sullivan has refrained from public comment on the advice of her attorney.

NeSmith said the school's board has also indicated it plans to sever ties to Aupuni O Niihau, and has instructed the group to return some $50,000 in grant money, provided to charter schools with Hawaiian students through Kamehameha Schools' Ho'olako Like program.

It was not clear what the new policy of the school's board will mean to its hopes for a permanent home. Aupuni O Niihau has purchased with grant money the old Waimea Dispensary building, part of which is intended to serve as the schoolhouse.

NeSmith said Aupuni O Niihau has scheduled a board meeting next week, and has invited the board of Kula Aupuni Niihau A Kahelelani Aloha to attend so they can discuss their future.