State votes to terminate Macon Charter Academy’s charter

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- A year after the school opened its doors, the state board of education voted to revoke Macon Charter Academy’s charter.

It also ordered MCA to end operations by August 31st.

The state and representatives from Macon Charter were in Atlanta for a hearing on the school’s charter.

It lasted for five hours.

MCA’s co-founder, Monya Rutland, pleaded with the state to keep the school open for at least the remainder of the academic year and give the school time to fix any issues that needed to be addressed.

The board said Macon Charter had too much time to fix the problems and couldn’t get it done.

“To us, what really stood out is one: constant turmoil and change. Students need a consistent environment to do their best and the other is financial mismanagement, the financial turmoil,” Mike Royal, the state board of education chair, said.

Rutland, who says she was disappointed in the state’s ruling, adds she isn’t sure what will happen to MCA in the future, but her focus on the students and their well-being.

“Right now, all I’m thinking about are our families at Macon Charter and getting with them and providing them with the responses and the information that I know they’ll be seeking as a result of this decision,” she said.

Bibb County school board members were also at the hearing.

They came to an agreement with the state, pointing out other public schools in the district will be able to accept the 153 students from Macon Charter by the end of the month.