State school board to discuss Macon Charter's future

Macon Charter Academy's challenges have been well documented locally, but on Thursday, they will be a topic of state-level discussion.

The state Board of Education's District Flexibility and Charter Schools Committee is set to hear an update on the academy's status during its regular meeting.

The school has been listed on a committee report as one that could have its charter terminated after being put on probation earlier this year.

"The Committee is aware of research showing that how a charter school starts is how it ends up -- and is therefore especially interested in MCA getting back on track," Lou Erste, an assistant state school superintendent, said in an email. "However, (local and state authorities) cannot let a school continue that could be forced to close unexpectedly and disrupt students' education."

Members of the MCA governing board were set to hear from parents during a meeting Wednesday night, and Erste called that gathering a "step in the right direction" ahead of Thursday's state meeting.

"We expect that the MCA governing board will make some progress on resolving the issues before the SBOE meeting" Thursday, he said by email.

Bibb County school Superintendent Curtis Jones described the situation as a "three-way partnership" between the local board, the state board and the school's leaders. He said he felt the district had done its part in the scenario and was now waiting for the state to decide its course of action.

"Our belief is it needs to play out sooner rather than later," he said.

Jones said parents and students need to be kept in the loop regarding the school's future, and a decision this week would help MCA families make decisions ahead of next semester.

Either way, the Bibb County staff has plans in place regardless of the outcome.

"I tend to believe parents are waiting until the end of the semester to decide what they're going to do," he said.

Last week, the Georgia Charter Schools Association severed ties with the school, citing a "lack of communication," among other factors.

A letter was sent from GCSA president and CEO Tony Roberts to MCA board President Lonnicia Maxwell. Roberts wrote that when the two groups began working together, there were "great hopes" for the future of the school with GCSA's support.

"With time, however, it has become clear that the board has chosen to ignore the consultation and advice of GCSA staff and has proceeded forward without seeking the very consultation the board states it is receiving from GCSA," Roberts wrote.

The letter also highlights the MCA board's decision to go away from GCSA's recommendation of a management company and instead choose Ed Judie as its executive director without consulting GCSA staff. This reportedly came after the school agreed to speak with a management organization but never followed up.

"We have come to the conclusion that we cannot be helpful to (MCA) and do not wish to have our name invoked any further as being involved or lending assistance under the current conditions," Roberts said in the letter, although he wish those involved

well in the future.

If that future involves MCA's charter being terminated, the debt for the school's facility on Madison Street wouldn't fall on the school board and Bibb County taxpayers. HighMark School Development took on "100 percent risk" for the financing of the building and renovations, according to Jones.

HighMark CEO Glenn Hileman said at last month's board meeting that if termination were to take place, the company would look to find new tenants, perhaps another charter school.

"They are looking, as best they can, at how do they protect their assets," Jones said.

To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter@MTJTimm.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 3:58 PM with the headline "State school board to discuss Macon Charter's future ."