The Virginia NAACP stepped up its opposition to the proposed Patrick Henry charter school today during a news conference in front of the south Richmond school.

The group said it opposes the initiative and questions the motivation of the School Board in closing the school two years ago.

"We oppose any scheme that creates a private school in a public school setting," said Melvin Law, a former school board chairman and a member of the Richmond branch of the NAACP.

"We now realize that the closing of Patrick Henry Elementary School was planned and deliberate to set up the process for the charter application," the group said in a statement distributed by its executive director, King Salim Khalfani.

"That statement is clearly mistaken," said School Board Chairman George P. Braxton II. "This group in no way, form or fashion existed" when Patrick Henry was closed.

Braxton said the school was closed after the 2005-06 school year for three reasons: declining enrollment, the lack of handicapped accessibility and the fact that three nearby elementary schools could easily absorb Patrick Henry's student population.

Representatives of the Richmond Council of PTAs and the Richmond Education Association were also on hand to voice opposition to the proposed charter school. The school board will vote on the issue Monday night.