By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati school board stepped over the line when it tried to give more decision-making power to a private group raising money for a new K-12 arts school, an arbitrator has ruled.

The school board in May voted to give the private group a powerful say in how the new school is run, but the arbitrator ruled such a change violates the district's teacher contract.

The Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center, the organization raising money for the construction of a 1,350-student arts school in Over-the-Rhine, tried for more than two years to change who would make decisions.

The private group wanted to appoint five members to the school's 12-member decision-making board.

Fund-raisers touted the new school structure as a selling point as they try to raise half the cost of the school. Teachers and several board members said the new structure gave the private group too much say in how the public school would be operated.

The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers union filed a grievance in June.

E-mail jmrozowski@ernquirer.com