Athens school board gets first charter school proposal

May 17--ATHENS -- Athens City Schools has received its first proposal to consider for a charter school, and organizers presented the proposal to the Athens school board Tuesday night.

Angie Griffin, who would be the education director for the school, gave a presentation for the proposed Teens Path to Success -- Education for At-Risk Youth, a statewide program designed for inmates ages 14-21 in county jails who want to work toward getting their high school diplomas. This is an important endeavor, Griffin said, because 75 percent of all crimes are committed by high school dropouts. Without a diploma, people are more likely to be involved in crime, live in poverty and to be unemployed, she said.

The school would provide special education services and use the core curriculum from an accredited agency, she said.

"We're hoping to offer therapeutic services," she added.

Rick White, who would be the school's assistant principal and guidance counselor, said all students would be accepted on a rolling admissions basis throughout the year, and "the curriculum would meet Common Core and Alabama state standards."

A full range of courses would be available, including honors and college prep, and, on completion, students would receive a high school diploma, he said.

"We want to find the best teachers who want to work with tough kids ... and make a difference," Griffin said. "We'll do a great job for you."

Griffin outlined the benefits of the program: the Athens school district would receive a percentage of funding as charter authorizer, county jails would have a program that isn't available now, and taxpayer money would be saved in communities because the recidivism rate would decrease.

Alabama lawmakers in 2015 passed legislation allowing charter schools, which are public schools run by private entities that can receive exemptions from certain education laws and design programs specifically for their students. The bill said proposed schools could apply to a charter school commission, or to local school systems that are registered as authorizers.

Athens City Schools is one of four systems to become a charter authorizer. The school district issued its first request for proposals for charter schools last October.

Athens Schools Superintendent Trey Holladay said the Athens school system would have oversight over the charter school, if the charter proposal is approved, to make sure money is being spent wisely and to insure the school provides a quality education. The next step for the Athens school board is to consider the charter group's proposal as is or with changes.

The school organizers project having 250 to 300 students in the first six months of operation, White said. That level of enrollment is needed, he said, for "survival." Several board members questioned the charter school organizers' revenue projections and asked what would be the biggest hurdle in the first six months.

"Getting enrollment coming in in a timely fashion," Griffin said.

Griffin is currently director of education at Pinnacle Behavioral Health in Huntsville, and White is a guidance counselor there.

Rick Carter, the Athens school district's executive director of innovative programs, asked those attending the meeting Tuesday night to give their feedback on the proposal.

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