SAVANNAH, GA – June 10, 2021 – Five charter schools in Chatham county have received allocations owed from The Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools System (SCCPSS) for the three previous school years. Savannah Classical Academy (SCA), a K-12 charter school on East Anderson Street, has received $14,028 from the district. This funding was welcomed by the school leadership as a move in the right direction as SCCPSS has now adjusted its allocations for the financial years 2018-2020.
“We are thankful that the district has listened to charter schools’ requests to review and allocate funding as required”, said SCA Director Barry Lollis. “Chatham County charter schools are keen to share our expertise and experience with the district as we respond to legislative updates. The retroactive payments are a step in the right direction but there is still more work to be done locally.”
Charter schools will use the allotment to cover a variety of costs — everything from staff salaries and benefits to operations including instructional supplies — since they have their own governance outside the umbrella of the district. The charter schools must still adhere to a strict set of rules that include state-mandated curriculum, assessments, and offer other student services — and be free to all students.
This allocation was awarded against a background of the lawsuit filed on behalf of SCA and Coastal Empire Montessori (CEMCO) which alleges that SCCPSS acted in bad faith when it demanded that previously allocated funding be returned after the schools’ enrollment fell below projections. Charter schools state that the district is violating the “hold harmless” clause in their contracts, which entitles them to the funding upon which they based their budgets.
SCA is a tuition-free, public charter school serving Chatham County students in grades K-12. The charter school is funded by the public education system but retains a charter that allows it to operate autonomously under a board of parents and community members. It is the philosophy of SCA that all students benefit from a rigorous, content-rich, education program that develops academic potential and personal character. To learn more about SCA, please visit www.savannahclassicalacademy.org.
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