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Parents and local leaders urge board to back arts‑focused charter
Summary
Multiple parents, business owners and long‑time community members spoke in favor of the Academy of Performing Arts, arguing early arts instruction boosts academic outcomes and community opportunity; speakers cited local talent and partnership plans.
Several community speakers told the Cherokee County board they support the Academy of Performing Arts application and argued the program would raise academic performance and equity.
Jessica Miranda, a business owner and former volunteer band instructor, cited academic research and told the board: "The arts train the mind. The arts train the soul," and she referenced effect sizes in testimony — "Language is approximately 0.6 above in standard deviation. Math, 0.3. Overall GPA, 0.5." Parent Peter Wagner also praised the applicants’ partnership approach and said the proposal appeared likely to add resources to the district rather than simply withdraw funding. Brenda Earls, a long‑time community supporter, urged the board to weigh students’ needs and community talent when deciding.
