Pataula Charter Academy’s renewal ensures commitment to academic excellence and student achievement

EDISON, Ga. – Pataula Charter Academy ensure a steadfast commitment to academic excellence and student achievement for the foreseeable future.

The Academy has achieved a significant milestone in Georgia’s educational landscape by securing an unprecedented renewal agreement. This renewal, comprising a remarkable 5-year extension with an automatic additional 5-year term, amounts to a groundbreaking renewal for the next decade. This arrangement stands as the first of its kind in Georgia.

“Pataula Charter Academy is a State Commissioned Charter School. So, that means we are authorized under the State Charter Schools Commission, where our own LEA, which means we’re our own school district, and we are basically given a Charter based on a five year term. So, within that five year term, we’re given expectations to meet. Within the entire existence of us, we have met or exceeded those expectations. So, for the first time ever, the commission decided to issue us a ten year charter,” said Cheryl Weathersby, Chief Financial Officer.

Pataula has fulfilled the eligibility requirements for a standard 5-year renewal by surpassing the academic performance of the schools its students would otherwise attend. Moreover, the school has demonstrated success in meeting the financial and operational standards outlined in the CPF.

“We have kind of always known we had something special here. Our staff is phenomenal. We have an amazing supportive board and our authorizer of course, the State Charter Schools Commission does a great job giving us autonomy to do the things that we need to do to meet and exceed those standards they have given us. Our staff was really excited. Our board, of course, was very excited to see that we were finally being recognized for exceeding standards. For the commission to show us a ten year Charter, it just kind of solidifies that for us,” said Weathersby.

Cheryl Weathersby, Chief Financial Officer at Pataula Charter Academy, spearheads efforts to secure resources for the institution.

“Actually, this legislative session, they decided to cut our facility funding. So, Commissioned Charter Schools, State Charter Schools receive no facility funding. We don’t get any bonds. But, they did grant us about $80,000 to $75,000 in grant funds every year. This year, for the first time ever, they have cut it completely. And we use that, of course, also, it calls for this building. We also do not receive any funding positions at normal school districts. So, like a superintendent, because our enrollment is so low, we don’t get a superintendent for that. There’s just several things like that that we always advocate for any time we get a platform to try to get us treated as favorably as traditional school systems,” said Weathersby.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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