Schools

Board of Education Denies County's First Charter School Application

"We've come this far and we won't let this decision stop us from doing what we believe in." -- Proposed Charter School Board Chair Nicole Musgrave

The Board of Education supported Superintendent Stephen Guthrie's recommendation to deny a charter school application in Wednesday's regularly scheduled meeting, saying the application lacked sufficient financial and curriculum details. 

Sustainable Futures submitted its application for a Montessori Charter School earlier this year. The proposed Carroll Montessori Public Charter School would be a tuition-free public Montessori education option for students in Carroll County. It would serve elementary aged children. 

I'm not against charter schools," Guthrie said. "Nothing more would please me than approving this." 

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Guthrie and other Board of Education members said that the application was "close" to being sufficient but in the end it lacked detailed information in financial and curricular areas.

Sustainable Futures presented its application at the June Board of Education meeting and at that time Guthrie recommended to the board that the application be denied. Over the past month, Guthrie said that CCPS staff has worked with Sustainable Futures to try to get answers to questions it had about the application. 

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"We've worked extensively with Sustainable Futures to try to get an application that would be successful," Guthrie said. "We asked for information [after the last board meeting], we got no new information." 

Several Sustainable Futures board members addressed the Board of Education at the beginning of the meeting, saying that they have worked hard to create a plan for a successful charter school. 

"We’ve been at this for two years, we appreciate the feedback on particular areas," Sustainable Futures Board Member Liz Barret said. "When we put that application together, we focused on a rigorous educational plan, thorough operational plan, transparent finanicial policies and procedures – which all go into a successful charter school." 

The resounding message from the Board of Education members was that they hope Sustainable Futures will continue to work on the application and submit it again next year. 

"There are some missing pieces, but I hope you’re not discouraged," Board Member Gary Baur said. "I want you to continue to meet with the staff to iron out this application, then come back because I think you have a valid idea. Don’t give up, please come back."

Sustainable Futures Board Chair Nicole Musgrave said she was disappointed with the Board of Education's decision. 

"I wasn't surprised by the vote based on the comments we got last month at the Board of Ed meeting," Musgrave told Patch.  "I feel like they knew where they were going already. We were disappointed in the results."

Musgrave said the Sustainable Futures Board will meet later this week to make a decision on how to proceed. She said they have 30 days to appeal the decision and they also have the option to resubmit an application next year, or a combination of the two.

"I truly feel like we've come this far and we won't let this decision stop us from doing what we believe in," Musgrave said. "I think we will continue, it's just a question of what direction we'll take."

There are 52 charter schools in operation statewide, with most of them located in Baltimore City. Charter schools are also located in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties, according to the Baltimore Sun

The Board of Education voted unanimously to deny the application. 


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