“Duval charter school struggling to survive; The School of Success struggles with poor scores and financial issues.” The Florida Times-Union, 3/19/2012
One of Jacksonville’s oldest charter schools faces potential closure because of chronic problems including failure to meet state and federal student academic proficiency standards.School of Success Academy Charter Middle School is also about $40,759 in the red this year – continuing an annual deficit trend that began in the 2007-08 term. And its five-year lease with the city for the school’s property ended nine months ago. It is now renting it on a month-to-month basis...The academy has received a school grade of “D” each school year since 2008-09. Its charter contract requires at least a “C” grade or better.Duval County schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals has recommended to the School Board that the district not renew the academy’s charter contract. In his recommendation, Pratt-Dannals details a series of deficiencies consistently found by district officials during regular site visits over the past five years, with the most recent visit in February...Saying the school provides a quality education, [Genell M. Mills, academy principal and director] noted it already corrected many of the issues — including nepotism, sloppy bookkeeping and accounting practices, and fingerprinting and criminal background checks on employees — that district officials cited as deficiencies...Approved in May 1997, the academy at 6974 Wilson Blvd. was one of the original three charter schools that opened in Duval County. It has an enrollment cap of 500 students, but has enrolled fewer than 300 annually over the past four years. The academy’s contract expires June 30, and it wants a 10-year renewal...When the district receives the academy’s appeal notice, the School Board will decide whether to hear the matter itself or refer it to the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Either way, the district will have 60 days to act on the academy’s request for a hearing, said Karen Chastain, the school district’s lawyer.
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