DELANO, Calif. -- After more than a year of waiting the Paramount-Bard Academy in Delano was able to welcome their first class Monday morning.

Six months ago, administrators for the Delano High School District said any charter school in Delano would take away their teachers, students and funding.

The Delano High School District wanted the charter school to be dependant on their board so they would have some oversight of the school.

When those negotiations turned sour, both parties took the issue up to the County Board of Education.

The board granted the charter school an independent status and the school was able to open with no further restrictions.

Monday, 175 students from across the county took a seat in a brand new school.

The school’s principal, Brent Malicote, said that they will start with sixth- and ninth-graders then fill in the rest of the grades as students move up.

Malicote said the academy offers small class sizes, college prep courses and there is no selection process.

The charter school is not dependant on the Delano High School Board of Education, but the school can still use public funds since the academy is considered a public school by California law.