State DOE letter praises Macon Charter Academy’s progress

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County Board of Education heard an update on Macon Charter Academy at its meeting tonight.

It included a 45-day trial period with Renaissance School Services (RSS), the turnaround firm hired to help.  MCA has also extended its charter to 2020 and hired an education service provider to help school leaders meet all of their academic goals.

Stephanie Hartley, the spokeswoman for the school district, tells 41NBC since MCA’s governing board already signed the contract with RSS, there was nothing for the the Board of Education to approve.

The next step is for MCA’s new board members to get their required training.

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MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia Department of Education is confident Macon Charter Academy’s removal from probation will occur sooner rather than later.

In a letter sent to 41NBC, Louis Erste, the Associate State Superintendent for Policy, Charter Schools, District Flexibility and Governmental Affairs, writes “we are pleased that the initial phase of transition for the MCA governing board is complete.”

Erste compliments the level of commitment shown this week. The board had three nights of meetings in a row so it could appoint new members and discuss business that is “critical to the survival of the school.” Erste said the serious and professional way the new members conducted their meetings is a sign “the drama of the past three months is over and the school can now move forward.”

Erste explained the agreement between MCA and Renaissance School Services (RSS), a school turnaround firm, is another critical step toward saving the school.

Erste expects the Bibb County Board of Education to approve MCA’s amended charter at its meeting Thursday night. The letter explained Bibb BOE members and staff are vetting MCA’s new board members and RSS, but Erste expects the Bibb BOE to see the progress MCA has made and enable them to approve the charter amendment.

If the Bibb BOE approves MCA’s charter amendments at its meeting Thursday night, the next step would be for the State DOE to hold a special called meeting to approve the charter amendment. Erste said the goal is to try and have that meeting before Christmas so MCA parents will know things are settling down and their school will have the conditions for stability in place. Faculty and staff will then be able to focus on implementing a rigorous academic program immediately upon students return in January.

Erste said once success begins to unfold in January and the MCA board has locked in a multi-year agreement with a strong turnaround firm then the State DOE and Bibb Schools Supertintendent will be in a position to determine when MCA will be taken off probation. Erste added this can only happen once it’s clear the school is being governed, managed and operated properly.

You can view the entire letter by clicking on the attached document at the top of this article.