Update: American Heritage Out, Cherokee Charter In

Just four days after a , a new tenant has already been secured.

Cherokee Charter Academy, the county's first charter school, has "signed a lease with the current on Sixes Road," said Rebecca Dinda, the director of education for Charter Schools USA in Florida, one of the nation's largest charter school operators.

The terms of the lease were not disclosed during a Tuesday night informational session at . During a question and answer segment of the meeting, Dinda told parents: "We actually have signed to purchase" the 12-acre campus.

After the meeting, she said she wasn't sure about that point. "I know we've signed a letter of intent," she said.

An official at American Heritage Academy told Canton-Sixes Patch on Friday that foreclosure was the easiest and quickest way to erase $12 million worth of debt. Dr. Parvis Nikkhoo, the school's development director, said American Heritage will finish out the remainder of the school year in its current facility.

In the fall, the 325 students in kindergarten through 12th grade will begin classes in another facility, , Nikkhoo said.

"They're going through some changes and it just happened to be perfect timing that we were looking for a school," Dinda told parents. "It seems like it's going to be the best option."

The Cherokee Charter Academy will serve 710 students in kindergarten through seventh grade. Eighth grade will be added the next year.

"As of today, we had 1,100 applicants," Dinda said.

Cherokee Charter will continue to receive applications until April 15. Students will be selected through a computerized lottery system that, among other things, gives preference to siblings.

Dinda said there will be an average of 18 students in kindergarten through second grade; 22 students in third through fifth grade; and 25 students in middle school grades.

There will be five kindergarten, four first through fifth, four sixth and two seventh grade classrooms.

The school will follow the 's calendar, but it will not answer to that school system, which twice denied the school's charter application before the Georgia Charter Schools Commission approved it . Cherokee Charter will essentially be its own school district, which gives it the flexibility to have extended school days.

The school bell will ring at 8 a.m. Dismissal will take place at 3 p.m.

Dinda said she drove by Cherokee Charter's future home on Tuesday, took a picture and sent it to everybody.

"The location is absolutely beautiful," she said. "It's very exciting."

Dinda told parents she anticipates a summer move into American Heritage.

"So is that good news," Dinda asked the audience.

The crowd responded with loud cheers and applause.