School Board Severs Ties With Fulton Sunshine, Science Academy High School

The Fulton County School Board has cut its ties with two charter schools.

The board unanimously voted to end the relationship with both Fulton Science Academy High School and Fulton Sunshine Academy at the close of the 2014-15 school year.

The school board based its decision to not renew “on the serious and recurring concerns regarding governance and transparency that have been documented through various audits and reviews,” the school system said in a press release.

The school board’s decision was consistent with the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia’s decision in August 2014 to deny authorization of both schools’ continued operation.

“Non-renewal of a charter school is one of the most difficult decisions a school district must make and it’s one that we take seriously and with much care,” said Superintendent Robert Avossa. “After years of opportunities to improve, it has become clear that the governance boards of these schools are either unable or unwilling to be sufficiently transparent in their governance practices to justify their continued funding by taxpayers.”

As part of the charter review process, district staff conducts a rigorous cross-functional review of all proposed charter petitions.

The published report cited poor governance in both schools that has resulted in the default on a $19 million bond, a self-perpetuating board membership structure that has been dominated by individuals who did not represent the community, a general lack of transparency and associations with individual and organizations now under Federal investigation.

Consistent with the school system’s commitment to expanding options for parents, Superintendent Avossa directed staff to investigate a path forward for the students, families and staff members of Fulton Sunshine Academy as part of the work being done in the school choice area.

“We don’t want to create false hope that this school can be transformed successfully into a school choice option,” Avossa said. “But investigating the idea further is the right thing to do for the many students, families and staff who have been its diligent supporters.”

Fulton Sunshine Academy, a kindergarten through fifth grade charter school, opened in 2010 as an elementary feeder option to Fulton Science Academy Middle School (now closed) and Fulton Science Academy High School, which originally opened as TEACH (Technology Enriched Accelerated Charter High) in 2006 but changed its name in 2010.

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