, named a earlier this school year, could lose its charter at the end of the school year with a vote by the Fulton County Board of Education next week.
The charter school's governing board filed to renew its charter with Fulton County Schools, but the superintendent's office isn't budging on two points.
The charter school first asked for a 10-year charter and a "limited, but broad" waiver of Title 20 regulations. Title 20 requires all professional employees in Georgia public elementary and secondary schools to hold state certification.
After a report from the superintendent's office and response from the charter school, School Board Chair Linda Schultz said the charter is on the discussion agenda for its Dec. 20 meeting.
Visit Fulton County School's website to view a video of the board meeting. (Advance to 1:12:26 for the start of this agenda item.)
"After several months of discussion, we have come to a mutual understanding on all but two items. We have repeatedly indicated that the system will not grant a 10-year contract and will not grant full flexibility from Title 20, commonly termed a 'blanket waiver,'" Superintendent Robert Avossa said in a reading from the executive summary that recommends denying the charter renewal.
"It makes no sense to close the school, or handicap it with prescriptive measures that has parent and community support as evidenced by its applications exceeding its enrollment by more than double and Alpharetta's issuance of approximately $19 million in bonds to construct a new campus," said Angela Lassiter, parent representative of the charter school's governing board.
Speaking before the board on Dec. 13, Lassiter said the school was not seeking a blanket waiver. Adoption of school system policies in the charter put some restrictions in place.
Under its own charter system application to the Georgia Department of Education, individual school charters are limited to three years.
Fulton Science Academy Middle School, Fulton Science Academy High School (formerly known as TEACH), and Fulton Sunshine Academy have jointly solicited an $18.9-million bond to fund building a new campus to house all three schools. The three schools are liable for repayment of the bond. It's the Fulton School System's position that a three-year renewal would place all three schools in the same renewal cycle, ensuring adequate monitoring of the financial liabilities.
The Fulton County School System is not obligated to repay the bonds, board attorney Glenn Cook said.
The charter school's governing board said it needs the 10-year charter to ensure financial stability and enrollment, and to save millions in interest on its bonds. A shorter term for the charter would increase interest rates on the payback. Lassiter said the charter school offered a compromise of eight years to put all three schools on the same renewal schedule.
Fulton Science Academy gets almost its entire budget from taxpayer dollars through a grant from Fulton County Schools. The school system provides $3.9 million annually, according to Fulton Schools Chief Financial Officer Robert Morales.
Fulton Science Academy's governing board disputes the superintendent's office statement that previous charter schools have failed because of blanket waivers.
Victory Charter School's renewal was denied in 2005 as it had no special education teachers, its board was not bonded and the building was cited by the EPA.
Fulton County Charter High School for Mathematics & Science closed in 2004 when it revoked its own charter, citing financial difficulties.
Fulton Science Academy Middle School consistently gets the highest ITBS scores and outperforms other North Fulton middle schools, Lassiter told the Fulton School Board as she asked them to reject the superintendent's recommendation to deny the charter renewal.
Timeline
- 2001 First charter contract approved
- 2006 Charter contract renewed
- Aug 21, 2011 Charter renewal application filed
- Nov. 3, 2011 Charter school, school system representatives meet
- Nov. 11, 2011 Another meeting
- Nov. 21, 2011 Final charter application
- Dec. 6, 2011 Final meeting before school board meeting
- Dec. 13, 2011 Superintendent's office recommends denial
- Dec. 20, 2011 School board schedules more discussion before a vote
- June 30, 2012 Current charter expires
The flexibility you want to deny to FSA is what has given it the ability to be extraordinary. If you take away the flexibility, you hurt their ability to perform. There is a saying, "Don't fix what isn't broken". If you shorten the charter to 3 years, you send a signal to the community, parents, and students that you don't value the achievements and superior results of this school. Please remember that this is about putting the students first. Keep FSA open.
FSA is not asking the Fulton Board any more than what the had avaiable for the past 10 years so why not another 10? Why not the waivers? Well you have look behind the curtain to see the motivation behind the Countys demands. I find it ironic Fulton Couty claims the largest Charter operation in GA. But look closely what does this mean? I understand their are different types of charters. Most of the Fulton Co Charters are coversion charters. Sound great? Wait dont just assume its the same as FSA or other regular charter. I found conversion charters have many more hand cuffs and limiations. These limiations imposed are causing these schools not to fully excell the same way as FSA has done. Rather than cutting he ball and chain on these converson schools due to POLITICS, MONEY and POWER it seems easyier to squash reguar charters with same restrictions. Then they could then say see no need for regular charters they dont prodcue any more than our conversion charters with our teachers aka unions. (Just a thought...hum makes you wonder where this is all coming from.)
Noun: An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions. FCSS has indicated that they have not been able to come to a compromise with FSA regarding the charter term and full flexibility. As they have at no time offered any concession, this is not true. FCSS has participated in negotiation meetings during which they pointedly refused to negotiate. While the BOE states that they are merely attempting to be good stewards of taxpayer resources, I think they overlook that FSA parents are taxpayers too.
FSA has peacefully and agreeably focused their attention on cooperation and continued improvement in all facets of their operation. The numerous awards and accolades, in addition to the waiting list for enrollment, should clearly demonstrate that this is a thriving, vital “start-up” charter school. FSA has a proven track record. Our community wants, needs, and supports the renewal of FSA’s charter.
Fulton County Schools should be striving to replicate FSA's performance system wide rather than impeding its vision. Let's hope Fulton County and FSA are able to resolve these administrative issues for the benefit of the students.
FSA is asking for a 10 year term for the charter. I still have heard no reasons for why this can not be given. Fulton county is saying that the 3 year charter will keep all the school aligned and therefore make it easier for monitoring them financially. Does Fulton county think that somehow making the charter be 3 years, that they will only have to audit one school. We know this is not the case all three schools will be audited, as they should be, so how does the charter affect the auditing and make it easier for them to monitor? Fulton County says they will not allow for a Blanket Waiver which is Not what FSA is asking for. They are asking for a Broad Waiver of title 20 which by the way Fulton County Schools application for a Charter school is also asking for, how ironic. On one hand they are saying they aren't granting Blanket waivers but on the other hand Fulton County Schools is asking for the same Waiver as FSA. How can this be? Does one hand not know what the other is doing? FSA is a wonderful school. Lets make it be about the children, who should come first.
That's quite an entrance into our community....... FYI three seats on the school board will be open for election next year.
As one FCBOE member said at a meeting on 12/14, " it's not about the personal stories, everybody has one. It's about the contract." The contract is the only way that Fulton County can handcuff FSA MS and keep them from excelling above the rest of the Fulton County Schools. We the voters should remember this and respond accordingly in November 2012. Three of the seven members are up for election. One vote can make a difference in the outcome for our children - more of the same obstruction or those that will get out of the way and let the children excel. It's our choice!
Perhaps the Fulton County Charter Liason should focus on trade schools, or help train our students how to say "do you want that with fries". The success of FSA MS can't be denied. The efficacy and intent of Dr. Avossa, Linda Schulz and the rest of the Board is in question. Kill the best School in the County and watch the results in the press and across your community.