TAMPA — The battle over four charter schools in Hillsborough County was discussed at a Florida Board of Education meeting on Wednesday in Seminole.

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Fourth-grader Zoey Sanchez sat in a packed conference room, waiting for her chance to speak. She is fighting for her charter school in the Riverview area to be allowed to stay open.

"I do not understand why some grown-ups are trying to close my school," she said when she got her turn at the podium.

The Hillsborough County School Board recently voted not to renew the contracts of several charter schools, citing concerns over class sizes, finances and the ability to serve underpriviledged children.

However, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said there is "probable cause" the school board violated the law with that decision.

He said the schools weren't given enough notice and that they are not failing academically.

At the meeting, Corcoran said of the school board, "This loyalty and bias toward a system, and not students, is reprehensible."

"And if they don't do the right thing, you'll see the legislature act," he said. "You'll see others act. It should never get to that point. It's never gotten to that point in the history of our state in the modern era. Why is it getting to this point now? It's just lawlessness."

Some people support the Hillsborough County School Board.

Damaris Bridges said she wants to see charter schools held more accountable and she wants more local control.

"The reality is the people in this county know our schools the best. We're the ones that spend everyday in them. We're the ones who elected the people to represent us so we have made that choice so to remove local control is very concerning to me," she said.

Others spoke out in defense of the charter schools and said this is about their choice to pick what schools they want to send their children to.

"Charter schools are public schools. I don't want my children to go to a private school per se, I want them to go to a public school. I want to choose a charter school and the charter school that's best for them," said Dawneva Faison.

The state board of education sided with Corcoran, who said the school board needs to reverse its decision or face possible consequencesn which could include funding being withheld or other sanctions.

Hillsborough County School Board chairwoman Lynn Gray told state officials she's been advised by attorneys not to comment.

The Hillsborough County School Board has called a special meeting for Tuesday to discuss the latest developments involving the charter schools.