Cherokee Academies to Offer More Options for Students

Cherokee County superintendent of schools said there was “a lot of interest about the concept” of the proposed Cherokee Academies that could open at the start of the 2012 school year at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

The Academies would be a system of specialized programs offering more opportunities for students in fields such as fine arts and technology. The proposed schools would be housed in available space at current school locations or in repurposed facilities. 

Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo reported the findings of a recent community survey and said the majority of parents surveyed supported the Cherokee Academies.

“When we took the temperature of the community, it was right where it ought to be,” Petruzielo said.

Nearly 500 community members completed the survey, and more than 70 percent said they would be willing to drive their children to a new school if bus transportation was not available. The public’s support of a new choice for student education was great motivation for pushing the programs forward as soon as possible, Petruzielo said.

“We expect as early as next fall to be rocking and rolling with at least a couple of these,” Petruzielo said.

Despite the support, some parents voiced concerns that not all parents, such as those who homeschool their children, were allowed to participate in the surveys. Petruzielo said the exclusion was not on purpose and the board welcomed all suggestions.

The surveys stated some parents worried how extracurricular activities would fit into the Cherokee Academies. The Cherokee Academies, which would be separated into fine arts, technical and advanced academics would not likely have their own sports teams.

“We wouldn’t have a fine arts football team,” Petruzielo said.

However, board members said a plan would be put together so students at the Cherokee Academies would not miss out on sports and other activities. The board said as more details like student requirements and educational expectations became clear they would be shared with the public so there was transparency with the process.

The Academies would be one more option for parents looking to find the best fit for their children in Cherokee County schools.

“We hope to provide more choices in public school programs,” Petruzielo said.

The board also voted 5-1 at the meeting to spend $2.7 million to cover a budget shortfall. Money from the reserve fund would be used to cover the difference. Board member Janet Read was the lone dissenter.

In the last four years the reserve fund has lost $15 million, down now to $30 million. Petruzielo said the economy and the loss of state funds has forced the board to use the reserve fund, something they did not want to do, but felt they had no other choice.

“The economy has just played havoc with our programs and services,” Petruzielo said.

Also at the meeting:

• Six different groups, ranging from the to Cherokee Citizens For The Kids, presented resolutions to the board in support of renewing the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. The E-SPLOST is up for renewal next month during a special election.
• The board was recognized by the Georgia School Boards Association as a School Board of Distinction.
• The was honored by the Georgia Department of Education as an exemplary library program.
• The board approved the 2011-2012 School Improvement Programs submitted by the county schools.