Welcome to the Imagine Main Street Academy Website.
THE LATEST INFORMATION:
Where the Charter and our school intiatives stand - By Wayne Whitesides
Hello fellow concerned Tri-Cities parents
A lot has happened over the past couple of months that I want everyone to be aware of. We are doing our best to get all information out to the community. As most of you know, our charter petition was denied by Fulton County in the middle of July. We were disappointed and frustrated in this outcome, however it has opened a new door for another option.
First—The Charter initiative will continue on. I however will be moving on. If you would like to continue the fight for the Imagine Charter school, please get in touch with Carol Shaginaw and let her know that you are wanting to help. We have had a split in our group, which I will explain in a minute, so she does need your help to move forward. Their goal is to resubmit their charter petition for a 2010 opening. There are a few new options available that could see the charter open using state funds in 2010. Again if you are interested, please contact her. I personally wish the charter initiative the best.
What's our new choice?
We had a meeting with Fulton County Assistant Superintendent Denmark and Moran, along with the principal of College Park Elementary to discuss what options we could have with them... there are many, but the two main choices discussed where converting College Park Elementary into a charter school and allowing for open enrollment at CPE.
OPEN ENROLLMENT AT COLLEGE PARK ELEMENTARY!
On August 25th, Principal Thornton called me from College Park Elementary (CPE) to let me know that the board approved to allow open enrollment at CPE starting immediately. This will be the only school in the county as it is going to be a pilot program for a county wide enrollment policy. What this means is that any Fulton County School District resident can now enroll at CPE (sorry not city of Atlanta residents). This is very exciting news and a giant step forward for many us.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL PLEASE CONTACT PRINCIPAL THORNTON AND START THE PROCESS NOW. WE ARE 4 CHILDREN SHORT FROM CREATING A 4TH KINDERGARTEN CLASS THAT TAKE OUR CLASS DOWN FROM 18 - 12 STUDENTS. ALL CLASSES HAVE A TEACHER AND A PARAPRO.
WHY AM “I” PUSHING FOR THIS.
At some point most of us have talked about needing just one school in the Tri-Cities area doing well (I’m not hear to argue if you think we already do) The Tri-Cities school perception is lousy and many of us are looking for that one thing that will get the ball rolling. While this is not a complete solution, it puts us on the right track. Look at Grant Park as an example. The Neighborhood Charter was started and all of a sudden it became a hotbed of activity that eventually saw the existing elementary school actually outperform the Charter! This could happen to us. Hapeville is well under way, Now College Park, then then rest. Before you know it, we have a nice big shiny Publix in downtown East Point.
I am tired of talking and want to get busy. We can start today and not worry about 2009, 10 or beyond.
So I am asking you all to enroll today. For one, the school is very nice, the teachers who I have met are great and Principal Thornton is very excited about moving forward. Secondly, the test scores at CPE have increased dramatically from the previous year. (Almost 15% increase I believe) This to me means the school is already on the right track. (Thanks Jennifer, Bryan and all the current teachers) Lastly, the only way to convert a “Traditional” school into a “Conversion” charter with a possible curriculum change to the International Bachelorette program (Same program that was to be for the Imagine Charter) is for the majority of parents who attend a special called meeting and the majority of teachers currently at the school to vote for the change. If you are not enrolled then you have no say. Why not work with what we have. I was relieved and very overjoyed with my experiences at CPE and quickly realized that with a strong PTA we can make a quick difference in a school that has a lot of potential. While I understand this is a little different than what we originally had planned, I do now think this was the best option all along and that we just needed to go down this road to unite our community, create a buzz and get started! Whether you're in Pre-K or up; we need you today to make a change for tomorrow.
I understand this is not for everyone and I applaud those of you who are continuing on with Imagine. The two of us working together can only strengthen our school system by truly giving us not just one or two choices, but three. Please get involved in whatever choice you decide on. All of our schools need your support.
Agenda Item Content
Executive Summary:
Imagine Main Street Academy Charter School proposes a K – 8 elementary and middle school with a term of five years in College Park, East Point or Hapeville. It expects to open with 216 K – 5 grade pupils and grow to 432 K – 8th grade students by the fifth year. It plans to offer international education using the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme.
This petition was presented to the Board in June for approval. At that time, the Board agreed to provide an extension to the petitioners to address concerns regarding the proposed start-up charter. The revisions were submitted on June 24 and have been reviewed by staff.
In reviewing the revisions, the administration still has concerns, as outlined in the attached rationale for denial. As a result of these concerns, the administration believes it would not be in the best interest of the district to approve this start-up charter request.
However, the administration believes the emphasis on the primary and middle grades International Baccalaureate Program have merit and should be further explored. Should the Board approve the recommendation for denial, it would be the desire of the Superintendent to immediately investigate options for implementing a similar program within the school system, possibly through a conversion charter and open enrollment.
ACTION REQUESTED:
This item is presented for action.
MOTION STATEMENT:
I move that the Fulton County Board of Education deny the Imagine Main Street Academy startup charter petition.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY:
Linda Anderson
Deputy Superintendent
of Instruction
404-763-4578
AndersonLD@fultonschools.org
Laura Stowell
FCSS Charter Consultant
770-551-2490 x229
stowelll@fultonschools.org
RATIONALE FOR DENIAL
DATE: July 7, 2008
TO: Dr. Cindy Loe, Superintendent
FROM: Linda Anderson, Deputy Superintendent
RE: Rationale for denial of Imagine Main Street Charter Petition
1. Organizational Concerns: Imagine Main Street adjusted every item requested in the original raters’
memo with the exception of removing themselves as the management company. However, recently
Imagine, LLC ceased operations as a LLC and became a Georgia non-profit. Although we are pleased
with the changes in the Georgia Division of this national educational management organization, Imagine
Inc.’s new Georgia organizational structure still faces challenges. During our discussions, Imagine, Inc.
personnel worked for hours with FCS staff. The respect and trust that Imagine personnel had from the
community was evident. We will closely watch the company as it adjusts to its new operating structure.
However, we are not assured at this time of the restructured division’s ability to avoid a reoccurrence in
Fulton County of the challenges encountered in other school systems.
2. Governance Concerns: The charter has been altered to allow the charter board, which is now
comprised of parents, to contract Imagine for the turn-key operations to begin the process of establishing
an International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) school. A draft of the contract is included in the
revised petition. It also includes a “Divorce Clause” for either party in the contract resulting in:
a. continued operations until the end of the academic year
b. the return of all Imagine property and outstanding lease payments (The ownership of the
school facility, which is paid for by Imagine, Inc. under charter board approval through an
Operating Expenses Fund, is not specified in the contract.)
c. payment from the charter board to Imagine, Inc. of all outstanding indirect costs allocations
for the year
d. payment from the charter board to Imagine, Inc. of the entire outstanding development
allocation in a lump-sum amount equal to $2,500.00 multiplied by the remaining number of
months between 240 (the lengths of the obligation being entered into by the charter board) and
the number of monthly payments already discounted at a rate of 10.5% per annum.
This financial arrangement requires a significant risk on the part of the charter board.
3. Sustainability Concerns: An additional concern is that the identified building is only large enough to
house the primary program but can not house the middle years program which the petitioner plans to
start before the end of the charter term. There is no accompanying high school program for the students
to attend if the middle years program is successfully started in a new location.
For these reasons, we recommend denial of this petition and request that the Superintendent direct staff
to work with interested parents and community members in the historic tri-cities area to investigate with
all due speed alternatives for implementing a similar program within the school system which will meet
the needs and goals for children over the entire scope of their time in public education.
WHAT THIS ALL SUMS UP TO IS FULTON COUNTY WANTS TO DO AN IB CONVERSION CHARTER ON THEIR OWN, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOTHING IN THE WORKS AND NOTHING IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT. WE MAY GET A CHARTER ONE DAY, BUT IT WILL BE ON THEIR TERMS AND THEIR TIME FRAME; USING US TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!
PLEASE GET PISSED AND MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE TIRED OF BEING WALKED ALL OVER. THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SOME OF THE WORST IN THE STATE AND IN THE NATION!
UPDATE, JUNE 23.
Our charter petition is finally in the hands of the Superintendent and the FCBOE. Imagine has made all the requested changes to the charter and resubmitted it yesterday. Myself and Kelly from Imagine Schools both received a phone call from our charter liaison who confirmed that Imagine has made all the necessary changes and in her words "Gone above and beyond". She felt that nothing in the wording of the charter should present any problems and that our only real obstacle at this time is if the FCBOE feels comfortable with Imagine and is wanting to work with them.
At this time we are asking everyone to please contact the Superintendent as well as the entire FCBOE school board to reassure them that as a community we fully support Imagine schools and trust that they are our best option. You need to contact them before July 10th.
http://www.fultonschools.org/board_members.asp
It is now up to you. If you truly want a new school, the FCBOE has to hear from everyone.
Update - June 19th - By Wayne Whitesides
The Fulton County School Board (FCBOE) voted on June 10th to extend our charter application for further review and requested changes to the charter. Currently, Imagine is working closely with the FCBOE to make all of the necessary changes to the petition to satisfy their conditions and concerns. All of this information must be submitted to the FCBOE by 6/24 and the Board will vote via conference call on 7/11 whether to deny or approve.
One current issue by the FCBOE is their perception of Imagine Schools. As a group we have known for sometime that Imagine has had some problems with a few of their schools, most of which are larger schools. As a group we have discussed this concern over and over again and have decided to stick with Imagine as we still feel this is our best option. We have looked for encouragement by how well Imagine Wesley in Atlanta is doing as proof that Imagine knows what they are doing and are looking out for our best interests. It is up to Imagine to prove to the FCBOE that they are a much added value to our school.
Here is the memorandum from the charter review committee with their recommendations
REGARDLESS OF OUR OUTCOME WITH IMAGINE WE NEED YOU TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR BOARD REPRESENTATIVES AND MAKE THEM AWARE THAT YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION. WE HAVE DONE OUR PART AND ALL THAT WE CAN AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOW UP TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY TO PUSH THE FCBOE AND HELP US MAKE A CHANGE.
Fulton County Board of Education Work Session- UPDATE - May 5th
Once again, the date and time has changed to show our support to the Fulton
County BOE for Imagine Main Street Academy's charter school petition.
We now do not need you to attend the May 6th, 6:30pm work session meeting. Our
presentation to the Fulton County BOE has been moved to 2:00pm, May 6th.
You may want to attend this meeting to obtain more information about Imagine
Main Street Academy, Our Charter School however we will need you to show your
support at the May BOE meeting on Thursday, 5/15, 6:30p @ Dunwoody Springs
Charter Elementary School. The vote will take place at the June 12th BOE
meeting.
The charter petition for Imagine Main Street Academy, A Charter School has
made it through two out of three rounds of review by Fulton County. The
Fulton County Charter Liaison representative informed us that the remaining
number of charter school petitions is four. Seven charter petitions were
submitted. We do not know at this time how many of the petitions are from
South Fulton or North Fulton.
Thank you for your understanding of all of the changes and for your support!
Click Here for the latest pdf flyer of our current charter progress and obstacles we still need to tackle.
Or go to Imagine Schools Website for additional information about all Imagine Charter Schools.
Currently we are working on getting our charter approved by the Fulton County School Board for a 2009 opening. There are several things that you can do to help before that time. Please take the time to do at least one or all of the below items.
1. Sign the Online Petition Go to the Imagine Georgia Schools Website to sign the petition and learn more about Imagine and how they are fighting for our rights to have public school choices in our area.
2. Write or email your Georgia representatives to have them support Charter friendly legislation. (note: you need to put in your full address to make sure your letter goes to the correct representative.
3. Go to our Blog site and get and stay involved. We need EVERYONE's help! The blog site will also keep you up to date as we progress. So please check often.
4. Write a letter of support and email us to find out how to get the letter to us. Or hold on to it and bring it to the next Neighborhood meeting that will be in early November.
5. We need letters from businesses supporting school choice in the area. Large, medium, small.... we need their support. They can either use this letter as is and put it on their letterhead, or write a more personal letter of support. Either way, the more we have the better our chances are. Again, please email us for our mailing address or hold on to them for the next public meeting.
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