Rutherford County School Board votes down proposed fourth public charter school while leaving the door open for approval later

Children participating in a learning exercise (Photo by 

Members of the Rutherford County School Board unanimously rejected what could be the district’s fourth public charter school Thursday but not without offering a gleam of hope for its supporters.

Rutherford County Schools Board of Education Chair Claire Maxwell (Photo by Rutherford County School)

The board provided more than a dozen stipulations for leaders of Novus SMART Academy (K-8) to address if they choose to file an amended application. Board Vice Chair Claire Maxwell made it a point to say she believes the proposed school has real potential, if those stipulations are addressed.

“I met with them and was very very impressed with them,” said Maxwell. “I think they may be able to shore up their deficiencies and my hope is that they can because I really was impressed with them.”

The proposed public charter school would eventually serve 990 K -8 students at full capacity in La Vergne and Smyrna. School founders are proposing utilizing a co-teaching model in literacy and math along with a Science, Math, Arts/Electives, Research, and Technology (SMART) focus. The board’s stipulations for reconsideration include nine suggestions for the school’s academic plan, including the co-teacher model.

Board members want Novus SMART Academy (K-8) to more clearly define the qualifications for the “second teacher” and clarification that the co-teacher concept will be utilized in the school’s first year. Other stipulations include a request for proof that the proposed school’s curricula is more “rigorous” than other district schools, research evidence of the effectiveness of its strategies, and a more detailed plan for serving English language learners.

If approved later this year, Novus SMART Academy (K-8) would eventually would join three other public charter schools that are scheduled to open in the county this fall including American Classical Academy Rutherford, Springs Empower Academy, and Rutherford Collegiate Prep.

Charter schools are free public schools operated by an independent contract or “charter” with an authorizing agency.