Macon Charter Academy hires firm to help save the school

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Charter Academy will be working with Renaissance School Services to help turn the school around.

The Georgia Department of Education heard an update about the school’s status Thursday morning. The school was put on probation in September after a visit from the Bibb County School District found a number of violations.

The state’s status report says MCA’s governing board met Wednesday night and approved using Renaissance School Services, a proven turnaround firm, to save the school. MCA and Renaissance are currently negotiating a management agreement. MCA is also working to change its charter to include an educational management organization (EMO). 

The state explains Renaissance can start working with MCA next week because both Bibb County and the state support MCA’s decision, but MCA still needs to amend its charter to include an EMO. The following timeline was included in the status report:

• December 15 – MCA governing board meets to consider a charter amendment petition seeking the addition of an EMO to their charter contract.
• December 17 – Bibb County Board of Education meets to consider the MCA charter amendment petition (assuming MCA’s board approves it)
• January 13-14 – State Board of Education meets to consider the MCA charter amendment petition (assuming Bibb’s BOE approves it)

The state feels MCA has made significant progress since September.