Politics & Government

Cherokee Board Delays Charter Vote

With a huge crowd stuck outside, the school board decides to wait until June 24 to decide Cherokee Charter Academy's fate.

, whose across Cherokee County in recent weeks, comes before the tonight in a and open as scheduled in August. A recent left the school in limbo. Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch editor Lindsey Davidson didn't make the first 225 people into the meeting before the room was full, but she'll get inside after the board completes its recognitions. See the full agenda, including the recognitions, here. Follow updates from the meeting on Twitter (@TowneLakePatch) starting around 7:30, and we'll compile the tweets here for easy reading and further discussion.

8:22 p.m. "They just received the staff analysis along with other new materials, and they felt they needed time to review it," Jacoby says about why the board took no vote on the charter school tonight.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has more details from inside the meeting, although the discussion largely echoed previous comments at school board meetings and in dueling letters and statements the past couple of weeks from the school district and the school.

Find out what's happening in Woodstock-Towne Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

8:20 p.m. Jacoby is outside to make it official. The board is calling a special meeting on June 24. All details will be published on the Cherokee County School District website.

7:59 p.m. Here's the view of charter school opponents outside the meeting from CBS Atlanta's Jennifer Mayerle before she got inside.

Find out what's happening in Woodstock-Towne Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

7:57 p.m. The school board is passing out an informational packet for charter school representatives to read over before the vote.

7:54 p.m. More from inside texters: The board tabled the charter issue and will meet again Friday, June 24.

7:52 p.m. More from texters: Jacoby said they need a larger venue for everyone to be represented. Petruzielo suggested First Baptist and the vote on June 24.

7:49 p.m. More from inside texters: Board member Kim Cochran of Post 7 doesn't want to vote tonight, and Superintendent Frank R. Petruzielo does because the entire school board is present.

7:46 p.m. "This is not just CCSD against charter schools; it's that CCSD has high standards."

7:43 p.m. A fellow stranded texter has inside knowledge and said they have begun discussing the petition.

7:35 p.m. At least we're not the only ones locked out. Here's the view from Lionel Moise of 11 Alive News: "Hundreds locked out of Cherokee Co. School Board Meeting http://lockerz.com/s/111336507."

7:25 p.m. Cherokee Tribune and CBS Atlanta representatives were just let in as the rest of us wait outside.

7:10 p.m. The board wanted a vote of which sides were represented outside. There is strong opposition.

7:09 p.m. School system spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said the police chief took a headcount, and they are at capacity. Someone from the crowd said, "Let's have the meeting at ," a reference to the in the spacious Woodstock church.

7 p.m. A chant has started, "Vote No! No Charter!"

6:49 p.m. Advocates are dressed in two colors. Red represents support for the charter school. Black is against the approval of Cherokee Charter.


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