Parents, mayor urge board to support American Classical Academy Rutherford
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Summary
Multiple parents, a student and La Verne’s mayor told the board they support the new American Classical Academy Rutherford (ACAR), arguing the charter offers distinctive classical curriculum, strong community engagement and has improved options for families in Rutherford County.
Several public commenters used the board’s public comment period to urge continued support for the American Classical Academy Rutherford (ACAR), defending the school against metrics shown at a prior Feb. 19 meeting and asking board members to visit the campus.
Tony Custer introduced himself as a La Verne resident and parent who said ACAR kept his family in the county and urged the board to consider recent improvements the school's board and staff had made. "They listened to parents, faculty, and staff... they brought on additional employees," Custer said, asking the board to visit and judge the school firsthand.
La Verne Mayor Jason Cole said he attended not only as a city official but "as a parent and a concerned neighbor," calling ACAR a choice that keeps families invested locally and praising the school for converting a vacant building into a learning center. "By supporting ACAR, we're not taking away from our existing schools, but we are adding new tools to the education toolbox," he said.
Other commenters — including Susan Sealing and Isaac Sealing — described charter schools as startups that take time to mature, urged the board to look beyond single-year metrics, and described positive classroom culture and student engagement. A middle-school student, Bellamy Greer, recited the school's mission and literature memorized in class. Several speakers asked the board to visit ACAR and emphasized that the school's presence provides families with a local choice that they value.
Why this matters: the district is managing growth, changing enrollment patterns and debates about choice and performance metrics. Board members heard parents’ appeals to consider classroom experience and the school’s community ties in addition to published metrics.
What the board said: the director and board did not take formal regulatory action on the charter during the March 5 meeting, but members acknowledged the public comments and the value of parent perspective. The director noted required charter annual reporting under state law and said the district continues its engagement with charter oversight.