As the school year comes to an end, most parents and kids are ready to think about summer plans. But enrollees and officials at Elmira's new charter school are busy preparing for the schools opening. Reporter Matt Jarchow has the latest on Finn Academy's search for a home.

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The clock is ticking on Finn Academy's search for a temporary home.

Wednesday, charter school supporters urged the Elmira City School District to open the doors of a now vacant school owned by the district.

"Finn's ready to go," Finn Academy parent Tracie Sassano said. "We're ready to clean the building, we're ready to clean the walls. It's sad that these people are just still holding these strings."      

Tensions escalated when the Elmira City School District finished the meeting without taking action.

"They're holding us hostage," Sassano said. 

Elmira school officials told parents that's not the case.

"An important issue such as a lease being negotiated, it's not the premise that there's opposition to Finn," Elmira City School Board President Sara Lattin said. "That's not it at all."   

The city school district sent a lease offer to Finn Academy for the Ernie Davis Middle School Tuesday, but Wednesday, both sides disagreed on whose turn it is to act.

"Our hope is we hear from them very soon so we can then follow the negotiation process and come to an agreement," Lattin said. 

"Our attorneys were ready to execute a lease immediately today, so I completely don't understand what Ms. Lattin is referring to as 'in our court,'" Finn Academy Head of Schools Maggie Thurber said.  

Finn officials hoped to have a lease signed and a new home for students by the meetings end, and while that didn't happen, Elmira school board officials say they could call a special board meeting as soon as lawyers for both sides agree on a lease offer. 

Finn Academy will begin its first school year August 17. Officials say once a lease is accepted they will need a few weeks to get the building ready. If a building can't be found and prepared before then, the school can use this year as a planning year.