The die is cast for MCA, now focus on the children

The fate of Macon Charter Academy's young life has been decided. While the third board of directors ponders what to do in response to state officials' decision to close the school, it is a lost cause. It was doomed from the start. Steve Smith, Bibb County's former interim school superintendent, said there were "political concerns" involved in approving the MCA charter. Those concerns, unfortunately, centered on race. The Academy for Classical Education, which would become Bibb County's first charter school, was up for approval at the same time as MCA and some thought if MCA — with a mostly black student body — wasn't approved, ACE — with a mostly white student body — also would be denied.

Though the opening of MCA was behind schedule for several reasons, it eventually opened with great hope and fanfare, but it didn't take long for the air to leave the balloon. The school is in now in an untenable situation. If it were to continue to operate, it would need two things: students and teachers. It needs a certain level of enrollment to remain viable, and it needs teachers to instruct students whom the last principal said came from difficult backgrounds. With the state threatening to close the school every 60 days, what parent is going to take the chance, and what teacher would stake their career there?

With the Georgia Milestones Assessments starting across the state next week, we will soon know how far behind the MCA students have fallen during this lost year. These children have always been Bibb County public school students. It's time the focus returns to them. The district needs to have plans for their reintegration back into their home schools — and they should be given all the extra help necessary so they can catch up and put this sorry tale, created by adults, behind them.

MORE ON THE CLOSING OF MCA:

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 7:59 PM with the headline "The die is cast for MCA, now focus on the children ."