Troubled Private School Could Close

Cherokee County’s largest secular private school, still reeling from , and , may close at the end of this school year.

That was one of the findings outlined Thursday in an emailed report to members of the community.

Parents who have met and worked with administrators at American Heritage since it was prepared the report, which is available in PDF format on this page. It spells out three immediate actions families must take in order for the troubled school to continue operations.

“If these conditions are not met,” the parent committee found, “American Heritage Academy will finish out the 2010/2011 school year and its contractual obligations, and then close its doors.”

The first of those three deadlines is 9 a.m. Monday. At that time, American Heritage needs enrollment pledge forms from all students who wish to return in the fall.

Currently, the Sixes Road private school serves 325 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. Lower school students pay $10,000 a year in tuition while those in the upper school pay $12,000. Students in both schools are assessed an additional $350 to cover the cost of curriculum fees.

“In order to break even for school year 2011 / 2012,” the parents wrote, “American Heritage Academy needs 164 students enrolled.”

And if they haven’t already done so, they’ll need to cough up a $500 enrollment deposit by May 3.

It was just 10 days ago that American Heritage officials announced a new site for the 2011-12 school year and a signed letter of intent to lease New Life Church in Holly Springs. American Heritage has to vacate its current home at 2126 Sixes Road by June 15 so can move in and prepare for its grand opening.

But New Life Church is far from a done deal and needs more than $500,000 worth of updates “for American Heritage Academy to fit,” according to the parent report.

Rooms need to be modified. A playground needs to be added. Unfinished areas at the church need work.

That figure doesn’t include $556,000 worth of expenses unrelated to New Life that American Heritage must cover. By the end of May 2, all of those funds – approximately $1.1 million – “need to be verified,” parents wrote.

American Heritage already has $650,000 of the $1.1 million. About $500,000 came from one individual while the rest came from a parent committee trust fund.

“The parent committee has done a great deal of work and has taken this as far as they can," the group said in the report. "The fate of American Heritage Academy is now in the hands of its family.”

Check back with canton-ga.patch.com for updates on this developing story.