UPDATE: Three new members appointed to Macon Charter Academy’s governing board

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Three new members have been appointed to Macon Charter Academy’s governing board.

Wade Scott, Lynda Hall Smith, and John Carey joined the other three members in approving a 45-day trial with Renaissance School Services, the turnaround firm that was hired to help the struggling school get off state-issued probation.

The board also voted to extend it charter to 2020 and to hire an education service provider to school leaders meet all of its academic needs.

Board member Joseph Brothers tells 41NBC they will have a complete budget for RSS by February 15.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Charter Academy’s governing board changed its by-laws and elected three new members Monday night.

School Principal Dr. Ron Boykins and the final board member Leontine Espy also announce their resignations at the meeting. Dr. Boykins’ last day will be January 15.

The change occurred after four people resigned from the board Friday because they disagreed with the recently hired turnaround firm to help the school get off a state-issued probation.

Members plan to meet again Tuesday night to finalize changes to MCA’s charter, so the Bibb County Board of Education can review it next week.

“We will take a look at the financial status of the school to make sure we are where we need to be, but again, we heard from Renaissance the money is there and it was there in the proposal last time presented,” comments new board member Joseph Brothers Jr.

The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. in Macon Charter Academy’s Auditorium. Dr. Boykins said an update on the school’s progress to get off probation will be given. There will also be discussion about the turnaround firm recently hired to help the school get back on track.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia Department of Education expects Macon Charter Academy’s only board member to amend the by-laws to allow new board members to be appointed Tuesday night.

This is following the resignation of four board members Friday. In a letter sent to the Bibb County School District, these former board members said they couldn’t agree with the turnaround firm recently hired to help save the school.

A spokesperson for the state DOE said MCA’s one board member will most likely amend the by-law at a special called meeting Monday night. Once a new board is appointed, DOE expects it to review two charter amendments in time for the Bibb County Board of Education to review it Thursday night. According to the state DOE, the two changes include adding a year to the contract term so it ends in 2020 instead of 2019 since the school opened a year late and adding the use of an Education Service Provider. 

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Four members of Macon Charter Academy’s governing board have resigned.

A letter was sent to the Bibb County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Curtis Jones, Friday, December 11. The letter says Lonnicia Maxwell, Willie May, Tim Jones and Steven DeGeorge resigned because they didn’t agree with Renaissance School Services. RSS is a turnaround firm the school recently hired to help get MCA off probation.

The letter claims these four board members have disagreed with the Georgia Department of Education and the Bibb County School Board about how to move forward with operational management and governance at MCA. The board members explain when the initial management agreement with RSS came back for review, they couldn’t agree to the conditions.

The resignations went into effect Friday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m. 

Maxwell was the board’s chair, May was the co-chair and Jones was the treasurer.