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Schools

Cherokee Charter Academy Holds First Board of Directors Meeting

More than a month after receiving a special state charter, the school plans to be up and running for the 2011-2012 school year on Aug. 15.

The Cherokee Charter Academy Board of Directors held its first meeting Wednesday night, . Until that time, the school was unsure it would be able to function during the 2011-2012 school year.

The meeting ran under the guidance of Billie Miller, senior director of education for Charter Schools USA, the South Florida company that will operate Cherokee Charter Academy.

The Board elected Heather Blevins as board chair and Larry Blase as vice president/secretary.

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The board determined that the regular monthly meetings would be held on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. with a location to be determined. Parents and interested parties who cannot attend are welcome to call in with questions or concerns, Blevins said.

Miller also notified the audience that there is currently an open seat on the charter school’s local advisory board. The position is intended for a “non-parent business partner.” Interested local business leaders should contact the board, Miller said.

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gave an informal update on the school’s progress. Suarez said that the school has been quite busy during the past two weeks. Among all the commotion, parent volunteers are helping move furniture, textbook orders are coming in every day and the technology department has been in several times for updates.

“We are currently still in need of 5 curriculum teachers,” Suarez said. She said she is very pleased with recent hires, even though the hiring process has had to be so quick in preparation for the coming school year, which begins Aug. 15.

While 831 students have been accepted to Cherokee Charter Academy, only eight students have completed and submitted all of their enrollment paperwork.

“Most students who have been accepted are missing one form or so,” Suarez said. She explained that the academy doesn’t yet have a fax machine, so parents have had to mail in student forms or bring them in directly, which has slowed down the process.

Suarez concluded her informal report by noting that the school will hold an open house on August 13 and that she hopes to begin filling positions on the school’s Parent-Teacher Co-Op committee, which will consist of several parental roles that will require in-class time with teachers and students.

The finance committee, located in Florida where CSUSA is based, went through the school’s initial operating budget for 2011-12. They explained that the budget assumes 995 students will enroll and they expect to hit that target number.

Cherokee Charter Academy’s primary source of revenue comes from Georgia State Special Charter School funds, which means that unlike many district-approved charters who receive a combination of state, federal and local funding, Cherokee only receives state and federal funding. a public-private partnership of "corporate, individual, and foundation charter school supporters."

Another expected source of revenue is an implementation grant or “starter” grant. The school has not received final approval yet, but has strong inclinations that it will be granted, according to the finance committee.

Also, food service revenue as well as before and after care revenue will help fund school functions. These fees are paid directly by parents.  

In proposed new business, Suarez explained her intention for a "Communities of Character" program. Community members will be invited to the school to reinforce lessons and experiences taught during the school day. Suarez also wants the program to help students build citizenship through character education.

“We want to help students experience situations that may be helpful to future career choices,” she said.

Suarez plans to work with board members to find candidates for the program and intends to discuss potential partners for the program at the September board meeting.

The next meeting date is September 28 at 10 a.m., an anomalous date not following the third Wednesday rule due to some members taking vacation that week.

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