BOE Set to Decide on Charter?

When will the BOE decide on the Oakland petition? On December 15th the Oakland Academy Charter School (OACS) officially submitted its petition to the Gilmer County Board of Education (BOE) and the Georgia Department of Education Charter School Division. The BOE must render a decision by February 13th, 2012, deciding whether to allow the charter school to operate in Gilmer County or to decline the petition prohibiting Oakland to operate. If the BOE declines, it has sixty days to give reasons for its decision. Founding Board Member Dr. Raiford Cantrell feels that if Oakland corrects the reasons given by the BOE, the school will be allowed to operate. However, Cantrell implied that the matter could become a legal matter if issues between the BOE and Oakland persist.

So, when will the BOE decide on the Oakland petition? In a recent email to FYN, Superintendent Bryan Dorsey explained that since he received the petition the day before Christmas Break, he has not had a chance to review it carefully and that he only distributed copies to the other board members on the 28th. He suggested that a decision on the petition may not be on the agenda for the January meeting, implying a February decision. The February 13th deadline, however, is before the February regular Meeting. Faced with this tight time-line, Dorsey said that it could be decided during the February work session. Since no official action can be taken by the Board at a work session, he said he could call a special meeting before or after the February work session, scheduled for February 9th.

Board Members told FYN that they have received the petition, but that they have not had enough time to read the document and therefore could not give a response.

The Gilmer County Board of Education will hold its monthly work session this Thursday night, January 5th at 6:30 P.M. at 497 Bobcat Trail.