After heated debates, Knox County school board approves new all-boys charter school

Despite a first vote that failed for Knox Prep charter school earlier this month, the Knox County school board on its second try approved the school with a 5-4 vote split.

Susan Horn (District 5), Betsy Henderson (District 6), Steve Triplett (District 7), Mike McMillan (District 8) and board chair Kristi Kristy (District 9) voted April 27 to add Knox Prep to the district. John Butler (District 1), Jennifer Owen (District 2), Daniel Watson (District 3) and Katherine Bike (District 4) voted against it, arguing tax dollars should stay at the district's existing schools.

Horn, who missed the first vote April 6, said the concern about the charter school siphoning financial resources from existing public schools was valid, but said she “wholeheartedly” believes in the right of parents to determine where their children go to school.

“We can trust parents to make these decisions,” she said.

The all-boys Knox Prep will be the county's first-single gender school and first charter school open to middle and high schoolers. When it opens in 2024, it will be the second charter school in the district.

The school's administrators say they're motivated to serve students — specifically boys — in a way that public schools in the district don’t. They're hoping to attract students of color and students from low-income families.

In the last two months, the proposed school has drawn opposition from some board members and vocal community leaders.

How we got here

Community members were not allowed to speak at the special meeting where the vote was held, but dozens showed up.

More: Why the school board voted again Why the school board voted again on Knox Prep, after a failed vote

More: Issues some board members raised As Knox County considers a new charter school, concerns rise about students left behind

When the board met earlier this month, members hit a tense 4-4 deadlock on a series of votes over whether to approve taxpayer dollars to pay for the proposed charter school in the district. Horn was absent for the first vote.

On vote after vote, the motions failed because a majority wouldn't sign on. First the motion to approve the school failed, and then several motions on reasons for rejecting the school.

Despite the board voting against the school at the April 6 meeting, a revote was needed because the board couldn't agree on reasons for denial, effectively nullifying that vote.

Board members who voted against Knox Prep, raised issues with data discrepancies in the school's application and asked the school's founders to show evidence of community support for it.

Community members voiced concerns against the proposed school

Watson said at the April 6 meeting he was voting against the charter school because he thinks the school administrators were losing community support.

"Activity in a community does not mean support," Watson said then. "What I've seen is not a lack of support, but a retraction of support. ... I believe over the last 18 months that you (Knox Prep applicants) have been in the community, you've actually lost support."

The Knoxville NAACP also urged board members to reject the school, saying it could hurt students who attend some of the district's "most challenged public schools."

Along with the NAACP, the Knox County Education Coalition and State Rep. Sam McKenzie, whose district includes Knoxville's east side and downtown have also opposed the school.

What do I need to know about the school?

Knox Prep will be located in the current Boys & Girls Clubs of Tennessee Valley site at 967 Irwin St.

The school is now the district's second charter school after Emerald Academy, which opened in 2015.

It will open in 2024, if approved, with 105 sixth graders. It's expected to reach full capacity of 700 students by the 2030-2031 school year. A new sixth grade class will be added each year as the preceding class advances.

Knox Prep: All you need to know

What is a charter school?

Charter schools are public schools funded by tax dollars that operate privately. State law only allows nonprofit charter operators in Tennessee.

In Tennessee, charter schools first opened in 2003 in Memphis and Nashville. Since then, more than 100 have opened, with the largest concentration of charter schools being in Memphis.

Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at areena.arora@knoxnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AreenaArora.

Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com. Twitter @LizKellar.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County school board approves Knox Prep, an all-boys charter