State to review ACE charter appeal, seeks local input at Sept. 21 town hall

The proposed American Classical Education charter school, which was denied by the Maury School Board in July, will seek an appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

The state appeal will also be a topic of discussion later this month as the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission hosts a town hall meeting, scheduled at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 at Horace O. Porter School in Columbia.

According to a statement from ACE, the meeting will be an "opportunity for representatives to present, and there will also be time provided for public comments from the community," regarding the possible establishment of a charter school under ACE, or American Classical Academy in Maury County.

More: Maury Co. school board denies ACA charter school proposal 2nd time around

"The school still has to file their appeal with the state, and so the next step is the town hall, where the state will review everything and determine how to vote on this application," former Maury County School board chair Michael Fulbright said.

A difference of opinion, concerns raised

Since first being proposed earlier this year, the charter school has raised a number of differing opinions, primarily those in favor and in opposition.

The July vote by school board members was also split down the middle in a 5-6 decision to deny. The school had previously been denied by only one vote in April and was granted a 60-day appeal period through July 30.

"I was not surprised by how close of a vote it was. It's a pretty hot topic on both sides, and everyone is passionate about wanting the best for the children in Maury County," Fulbright, who voted in favor of the charter school, said. "Each side has a different way of what that looks like."

At the time, those in favor of the school argued that by withholding the county's authority in lieu of the state would create other issues, such as transparency when it comes to the county's role in the decision making.

"I am always in favor of the local school board having control over our schools, because anytime we get state involvement I get a little apprehensive. I still support it, but would have rather had us take control instead of an outside entity."

More: Maury Co. school board votes down ACA charter school by 1 vote

The opposing opinions also stemmed from a number of concerns, such as if the school would provide an opportunity for all children, reflecting a diverse community, rather than a select few.

"There are over 104,000 people living in our county and 22 schools, and so we are asking approval for all children in our public school system. The opportunity for education should not be governed by a political party or a system," former Vice Mayor Christa Martin said. "It's about educating our students."

State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, said the state commission's vote will be based on the viability of the ACE application, not anyone's opinion.

"Your personal opinions should not factor into this, because they will not factor into the opinion of the state," Cepicky said during the July 27 special called voting meeting. "It should be based on 'does the application meet the criteria."

More: ACA charter school proposal to be heard by Maury County school board

Cepicky also said he believes some rhetoric about charter schools has been "inaccurate," arguing that a charter school "is a public school" because it's funded by public dollars and serves all children.

However, opponents argue that because state funding follows the child, who would attend a charter school, funding is drawn away from the public school system.

The ACA proposal aims to eventually enroll approximately 340 students across grades K-5, which could factor to using approximately $9,744 per pupil of state funds, according to per pupil expenditures in Maury County, according to the 2021-2022 state report card.

Cepicky also cited the school district's recent TISA (the state's school district funding formula) bump of $15 million in school district funding, resulting from the state legislature revamping the formula last year.

Although Superintendent Lisa Ventura says she supports the school board's decisions about the charter, she also says she worries about deficits in the ACA application in upholding state standards and beyond as she stated in a presentation before the school board last spring.

Previously, Ventura said proper oversight of charter schools is an issue that's constantly being debated.

"There are a lot of unknowns but whenever you are taking money away from locally-run public schools, whether state, federal or local tax dollars, it's risky because, charters, although they have to adhere to state testing, they [get waivers such as for class size and enrollment procedures are different]," Ventura said when the charter application was introduced last spring.

A state issue with a local voice

While the proposed charter school failed to pass at the county level, Fulbright and other leaders believe Maury County citizens still have a voice in the matter.

Not only do they still have a place in the discussion, but public input is strongly encouraged, if not more so now than before, Fulbright said.

"The state's going to vote their way, but we have to have people continuing to be involved, speaking out on whatever they feel, no matter what side of the vote," Fulbright said. "It's important to continue to advocate for the students within the school, because that's what this was all about."

The public can share input online ahead of the Sept. 21 meeting at www.tn.gov as well as view the upcoming agenda and information regarding the school.

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: ACE to appeal charter school to state, town hall set for Sept. 21