The battle over the proposed Patrick Henry charter school moves up a political notch today with a joint press conference by Richmond mayoral candidate Paul Goldman and 7th District School Board Rep. Keith West.

West and Goldman plan to release a draft contract for the proposed charter school at a press conference today at noon at the former Patrick Henry Elementary School at 3411 Semmes Ave. in South Richmond. They have been working with the contract committee of the Patrick Henry Initiative that has proposed to open the school at the site of the closed elementary school.

A previous contract proposed by Richmond public schools failed last week after West, a supporter of the charter initiative, voted against it because he thought the terms would undermine the school's chances of success.