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JPS board votes to oppose Ambition Preparatory's bid to add high school grades
Summary
The board voted to deny Ambition Preparatory Charter School's request to expand its K-8 program to include grades 9'12, citing concerns about long-term enrollment, fiscal impact and staffing requirements for high-school programming.
The Jackson Public School District board voted Monday to oppose Ambition Preparatory Charter School's request to add a high school and expand overall enrollment capacity.
Superintendent Dr. Green briefed trustees on the district's view that adding high-school grades would amount to establishing a new school with long-term implications for enrollment and district fiscal operations. "The establishment of this high school will have significant long term implications, including decreased enrollment in our existing high schools, particularly the smaller ones, and resulting impact on district fiscal operations," Dr. Green said during his recommendation.
The administration noted state law gives a local board veto power over charter applications in districts rated A, B or C; the administration characterized Ambition Prep's request as the creation of a new school rather than a simple expansion and urged the board to vote no. Trustee (speaker 2) moved to deny the application; Trustee (speaker 15) seconded and the motion passed with recorded "aye" votes and no nays recorded.
The board said it will notify Ambition Prep's leadership and the state authorizer of the denial and, in coordination with advisers, will determine any additional steps.
Next steps: administration will communicate the vote to the charter authorizer and Ambition Prep administration and may pursue further advisory or procedural steps as advised.
