Gordon, Calhoun seek charter system status

Calhoun City and Gordon County schools have filed petitions to become charter systems en route to satisfying state rules that require schools to pick one of three methods of operation by 2013.

The choices are to maintain their current status, with no operational flexibility; become an "Investing in Educational Excellence" system, with some flexibility; or be a charter school district with the highest level of flexibility.

The difference is how much authority systems have for local adjustments in matters such as class size, spending, certification and salaries, officials said.

Charter schools are free from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools, according to the Georgia Charter School Association. Such schools sign a contract with the state detailing their mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment and ways to measure success.

"It's not our goal to be status quo," Gordon County Schools Superintendent Bill McCown said.

Gordon County is filing its petition now to get in line for a $3.16 million grant to fund a career academy, said Amy Johnson-Parker, career, technical and agricultural education director.

CLASS NOTESCalhoun City Schools* Number of schools: 4* Number of students: 3,200+* Proposed date to begin operations as a charter system: Fall 2011Gordon County Schools* Number of schools: 10* Number of students: 6,500+* Proposed date to begin operations as a charter system: Fall 2011Source: State and local schools and records

She said the system wants to prepare students for high-paying, high-tech jobs expected in Northwest Georgia and the Chattanooga area. Grant awards will be announced Dec. 2.

Gordon would work with Georgia Northwestern Technical College if the grant is awarded, officials said.

Calhoun City Schools Superintendent Michele Taylor said local flexibility allows systems to build on successful programs and adapt to changing situations.

Both systems had to file petitions by Nov. 1 to be considered for approval when the Georgia Board of Education meets in March. If they get the state's approval, Gordon and Calhoun would become charter systems by next fall.

While the two systems didn't intentionally file petitions at the same time, the timing will "certainly be beneficial," Taylor said.

Gordon County has 10 schools and needs the career academy for stronger technical education, McCown said.

The academy would serve all Gordon and Calhoun students, as well as those in neighboring counties and school districts, he said. Gordon officials were investigating career academy applications at the same time they started studying charter systems, he said.

"The career academy application pushed the charter district application or we probably would have held back another year," he said. "But we needed the extra flexibility inside of our system to make our career academy strong."

Taylor said the four-school system in Calhoun, Gordon's county seat, is filing its petition because the time is right and charter systems can use flexibility over spending and programs.

"For us it was the logical next step," she said. "We went through district SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accreditation five years ago and, as part of that process, we seek to continually improve our school system."

McCown said the Gordon system has collected 65 letters of endorsement and funding commitments from local business and industry.

Contact Ben Benton at 423-757-6569 or bbenton@timesfreepress.com.

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