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School did not deserve extension of charter

Despite the pleas of more than two dozen parents and teachers, the Pinellas County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday not to renew the charter of the Athenian Academy in Dunedin. It was the right thing to do.

Those operating Athenian Academy have been so irresponsible that the School Board had no reasonable alternative. Charter schools are operated by private boards but receive public tax dollars at the rate of almost $4,000 per student per year. The School Board is ultimately responsible for ensuring that those tax dollars are spent wisely and children are being well-served by the school. School Board members concluded this week that Athenian Academy did not measure up, so they turned down the school's request for a 15-year extension of its charter.

Athenian Academy was founded in 1999 as a Greek immersion charter school. Initially, it seemed to fulfill the goal of offering a unique educational environment for children and a viable alternative to regular public schools.

However, after five years of operation, Athenian Academy has had massive staff turnover, enrollment has fallen to less than 80, the school's finances are a mess, the school has refused to submit required records to the school district, allegations that the school's directors have violated the state's Sunshine Law are being investigated and the academy has failed to respond to all the deficiencies reported by auditors. The school district staff members have tried to work with Athenian Academy's directors to correct the problems, but the academy's staff has not met them even half way.

"I resent being placed in this position," School Board member Jane Gallucci said Tuesday, and other board members also expressed frustration with those running the academy. Board member Mary Brown lectured the parents who spoke up for the school, saying they should have been insisting on better performance from the academy's private board long before the situation got so bad.

Some of the parents who spoke said their children enjoy Athenian Academy and are learning there. We wonder, how do those parents know their children would not be doing even better in a more stable, focused and well-funded educational environment? One teacher who praised the academy at the School Board meeting noted that there is so little money at the school that parents must purchase classroom supplies themselves.

The School Board's decision to reject a 15-year extension is not the final step in shutting down the school. Athenian Academy can appeal the decision to the School Board within 14 days, and if it doesn't like that final decision, the school may appeal to the state. If not renewed, the charter will expire in June.

That may be the best outcome for a school with such a poor record of performance.

[Last modified March 11, 2005, 01:23:21]