State commission hears appeal from denied charter school designed for students who've dropped out

Administrators of a proposed public charter school in Clarksville told the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission their concept to serve at risk students and recent dropouts has already attracted the interest of local businesses and institutions of higher learning.Oxton Academy director Marcel Monnar said his proposed school has had discussions about partnerships with LG Electronics and Hankook in Montgomery County along with Austin-Peay State University, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and Bethel University.The school would serve up to 300 students with a curriculum that’s tied directly to career education to offer practical, skill-based knowledge, and industry certifications according to documents provided to the commission.“In partnership with parents, caregivers, and potential employers we will provide intensive, individualized support to students who have fallen off track and face significant challenges to success,” said Monnar.The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System School Board narrowly voted down Oxton Academy’s charter application by a 4-3 vote last July despite the proposed school receiving a positive recommendation from the district’s charter review team.Oxton Academy appealed to the charter commission who has the authority to override the district’s decision.  Friday afternoon the commission held a public hearing on the appeal.Monnar described his school as a place that would not only serve at risk students but also meet the needs of children of Fort Campbell soldiers who could benefit from Oxton’s personalized learning experience.“Oxton Academy is able to leverage time to suit individual learning needs,” said Monnar. “It’s no longer confined to learn to a fixed schedule with few alternatives but creates a more fluid environment.”Montgomery County has never had a public charter school. District Director of Policy and Continuous Improvement Elizabeth Vincent told the state commission some CMCS board members were uncomfortable with adding that option for families and one questioned whether the school was needed.“He felt that there were so many opportunities available specifically for this population of high school students that the charter school was not really a necessary addition that we needed at this time,” said Vincent.Oxton administrators say they’ve talked with families who disagree and are excited about the possibility of a high-quality school choice offering the smaller classes and individualized learning.“Through this approach, disenfranchised students begin to experience success which can be a tremendous motivator for continued effort and accomplishment resulting in achieving a high school diploma and college or career readiness,” said Monnar. “This academic plan not only differs from district’s traditional high schools but offers a unique approach for building on students’ strengths while mitigating deficits.”The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission is schedule to decide Oxton Academy's appeal next month.