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Committee grants City Academy one‑year delay to its expansion; staff to check startup grant terms
Summary
City Academy received a one‑year waiver to delay a planned 2026 charter expansion to fall 2027 after leadership turnover at a music‑school partner and low initial enrollment; the committee asked staff to confirm whether the charter startup grant must be repaid if the campus never opens.
The Law & Licensing Committee on May 8 approved City Academy's request for a one‑year delay to its planned elementary expansion, after the charter's executive director said a key music‑school partner experienced leadership changes and the school did not secure the enrollment needed to open in fall 2026.
Director Stock explained the partnership delays and said the school had received a $150,000 startup grant with two‑year spend authority; he asked for more time to market the program and secure students. Committee members asked whether the state startup funding would have to be returned if the campus never opens. Stacy Hutchings, executive director of the State Charter School Board, said the state allocates startup funds for new and expanding schools and that the charter board would follow up on whether specific startup grants must be repaid if a school fails to open.
The committee amended the motion to limit the waiver to one year; the motion passed unanimously. Committee members asked staff to identify any additional state funding tied to the expansion before the item goes to the full board so board members can see whether public funds are at risk if an expansion does not proceed.
Provenance: City Academy presentation and Q&A, May 8.
