Macon Charter Academy hopes reorganization filing can save school

Macon Charter Academy’s leadership team has turned to the court system to try to save the school from closure.

The school has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, according to a statement from the Callins Law Firm, recently brought in by the school’s governing board for representation. No date was given for the action.

“The academy’s governing board of directors unanimously determined that a reorganization is in the best interest of the school, students and surrounding community,” according to the statement.

Among other things, Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code allows an individual or a business to reorganize its debts while continuing to operate. The debtor, often with participation from creditors, creates a plan of reorganization under which to repay part or all of its debts.

Governing board Chairman Ed Grant declined comment Tuesday evening, but he was quoted in the statement as saying that the move was necessary to save a school that was a “great place to learn and grow” for students despite being on state probation since September.

School officials found out on March 31 that the Georgia Department of Education planned to ask the state school board to terminate the school’s charter, or contract that it operates under.

The state board is expected to vote on starting that termination process at its meeting Thursday. If that measure passes, an official hearing would be scheduled for Macon Charter.

“Since March, the governing board has worked tirelessly to navigate the processes put in place by the county and the state, but it has become clear that we must be proactive and take this step forward in order to protect the students and the resources of this school,” Grant said in the statement.

Grant deferred all questions to attorney Joel Callins, who could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

The statement also indicated that while the school will continue to operate “as normal” for the rest of the current school year, leaders have no plans for the school to open later this year for the 2016-17 school year.

“The academy is hopeful that the reorganization process will facilitate the removal of the school’s probation status with the State of Georgia Department of Education and plans to resume normal recruitment and enrollment for the 2017-18 school year,” according to the statement.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Macon Charter Academy hopes reorganization filing can save school."