Despite its declining enrollment, Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA) plans to expand its campus and, almost as an afterthought, states that it will seek the necessary approval from the Charter Commission.
The school held two zoning meetings and received approvals from the City of Homewood on Oct. 9, 2023, and had the new facility fully designed before presenting it to the Charter School Commission. Sources close to the commission say that's where the school should have started, with one expressing frustration that MCAA "clearly doesn't believe the rules that apply to all of the other schools applies to them."
During last month's meeting, where appointees of Republican leaders renewed the charter, school administrators were asked about the timeline of their expansion.
The answer led to confusion and more questions with few honest answers.
"So, um, the zoning has been approved. It had to get rezoned, and the building, uh, design has been approved. So, we've basically have just been waiting for today. Um, as soon as this is approved, actually, our building person is on the Zoom right now. Um, so, as soon as it is approved, um, we start tomorrow with the remodel of the second and third floors of the new building. So you'll go in the band room will be on one side, new theater will be on the other side. The third floor will be all classrooms and administration and mental health, new mental health rooms," an official from the school told the commission.
"Have we approved this expansion?" one commissioner asked after hearing the news that the school was ready to "start tomorrow."
Following concerned looks, silence, and some cross-talk, commissioner Charles Knight, a gubernatorial appointee pushing for the school to receive a five-year renewal rather than the three originally proposed, asked the school officials about enrollment.
In their response, the school did not mention the 15% decline in students, resulting in a loss of 52 students. Instead, they said that their goal was 300-400 students with an ultimate goal of 500.
This was a different answer from the one the school gave the City of Homewood when it appeared before them for a zoning change. In that meeting, the principal stated that there were 550-600 students.
Charter school staff then interjected, "New facilities do have to come before the commission," to which the school representatives said in unison, "Yeah."
Following additional questions and answers, the issue came up again, with the school stressing that they were ready to begin the work.
"You will need to come before the commission about it," commission staff said.
"We will, we will. I promise. We will not do anything until then. Uh, so uh I think we've been so focused on this that uh but yes uh we will uh we will do that. See you next month."
It is unclear how an issue that was brought before the City in Homewood in October 2023 could not be brought before the Charter School Commission before October 2025.
The issue is not on the agenda for the Charter School Commission's November 10 meeting.
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