Peach County Board of Education Votes Down Charter School Petition

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – With a 4-1 vote, the Peach County Board of Education denied a group’s petition to open a charter school in Byron.

During a work session on Tuesday, board members raised concerns about the school’s finances and curriculum. Byron Peach Charter High School Board members say they weren’t surprised by the response and have already submitted a petition to the state.

“This is for us to move forward to get the ultimate goal of having what we feel is opportunities or options in education,” said B.J. Walker with the Byron Peach Charter High School Association, “we heard a lot of the board members talk about wanting what’s best for the child, but who better to determine that than the parent.”

If approved by the state, Walker plans to open the doors as early as fall 2014. The school would be based on a year-round model serving 9th and 10th grade at first, and then expanding by each grade level.

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