Fresno Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership

“Fresno charter school's finances questioned; FUSD board ill at ease with academy's $56,000 shortfall.”The Fresno Bee, 3/21/2012

The financial health of one of Fresno's charter schools came into question Wednesday night at the Fresno Unified School District board meeting.

The Fresno Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership charter petition is up for renewal, and district trustees and staff expressed uneasiness about the school's finances.
The school, which opened in 2009, will end the fiscal year with a roughly $56,000 shortfall, said Jacquie Canfield, executive director of fiscal services for Fresno Unified.

Canfield said the school has had trouble paying its bills to the county and the district is concerned the school may not be able to pay off debt...

The board will decide next month whether to renew the charter through 2017. Fresno Unified first chartered the school in 2007, although the school's opening was delayed for two years.

Fresno Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership has 133 students in grades 9-11. Childers said the school is expecting another 61 students next year, although district staff said that may be ambitious. The school has enrolled 40 to 50 new students each year...