The McKenzie Foundation hired Pete Cooper to help launch a boys charter school more than a year ago, but it has decided to suspend the initiative.
After a year of investigation and research, Cooper said Tuesday that the foundation's board decided not to pursue the boys school at this time.
"So they don't need me," Cooper said.
Tuesday was Cooper's last day at the McKenzie Foundation, which was founded by W. Thorpe McKenzie, a Wall Street hedge fund magnate from Lookout Mountain. Mc Kenzie hired Johnny Smith, a reformed felon, in 2010, and Smith began quietly nurturing the foundation.
In 2016, McKenzie brought on Cooper, who had just recently retired from working 25 years at the helm of the Community Foundation. At the time, Cooper, McKenzie and Smith were vague about the unnamed education project they were starting to pursue, but said they hoped it would alter the landscape of inner-city schooling.
Smith said the McKenzie Foundation is still committed to "heavily investing in public education." But at this time, the foundation plans to play a more supportive role and isn't poised to launch a school, he said.
Late last year Ted and Kelly Alling announced plans to launch a boys charter school - Chattanooga Prep - in the Highland Park neighborhood. Smith said the McKenzie Foundation is supportive of this work, and believes the charter schools can provide some of the county's students with a leg up.
Smith added that Cooper has played a mentoring role in his life, and that the McKenzie Foundation is thankful for the work he's done over the last year and may continue to consult with him in the future
Cooper joked Tuesday that he is now entering his third retirement, and plans to spend about a month cleaning his workshop.
Despite leaving McKenzie, Cooper said he has no plans to move away from Chattanooga and will continue working to improve educational opportunities for students.
Contact staff writer Kendi A. Rainwater at krainwater@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @kendi_and.