Hamilton County board approves emergency enrollment increase at Skillerton Elementary, 6-4, with condition

The Hamilton County chartering authority voted 6-4 to approve an emergency amendment that raises enrollment limits at Skillerton Elementary, subject to a requirement that Skillerton and Ivy Academy submit an updated matriculation/articulation agreement by June 30.

The review team told the board it had accepted the emergency petition for review but found the application did not "demonstrate unanticipated extraordinary circumstances," flagging unresolved concerns about matriculation, math data, staffing and the five-year budget. The team also highlighted strengths: strong demand evidenced by a robust waiting list, English-language-arts performance at or above district averages, and a clean independent audit.

Miss Markham, the school representative, told the board she had been advised by the Tennessee Charter School Center and a state board advisor to file as an emergency petition and said withdrawing the earlier fall application and re-filing reflected that advice. She told the board families had applied based on advertising for 88 kindergarten seats and warned that denying the petition now "we're gonna break hearts" and would force teacher layoffs and immediate reconfiguration of staffing and classrooms.

Several board members challenged the timing and process, noting Skillerton’s original charter cap of 408 students and pointing out that an increase could leave more elementary students vying for a limited number of seats at Ivy Academy. Board members and the review team repeatedly urged that any enrollment increase account for the existing matriculation/articulation agreement and be communicated to families. One board member said Ivy’s leadership had signaled concern and asked why the two schools had not presented a joint plan before the board.

To resolve competing concerns about immediate family impact and the governance relationship between the two charter schools, board member Miss Jacobs moved to approve the amendment with a condition that Skillerton and Ivy present an updated matriculation agreement by June 30. The motion was seconded and, after discussion and a change to a condition subsequent, passed in a roll call vote: Yes — Doherty, Hadden, Keane, Schaefer, Slater, Chairman Smith; No — Black, Connor, Jones, Thomas. The clerk announced the tally as 6–4 and the chair declared the motion carried.

The board did not void the renewal or immediately change the charters if the June 30 agreement is not delivered; however, the board said failure to meet the condition would put the schools out of compliance with their charter and could trigger follow-up steps. The board encouraged the schools to work together promptly so the change can be implemented in a way that minimizes disruption to families and staff.

The board adjourned after the vote. The schools and the chartering authority will now move to finalize the matriculation/articulation agreement and resolve logistics tied to lotteries and seat windows before the next application window.