Rutherford County School Board turns down applications from two proposed public charter schools
Members of the Rutherford County School Board and logos for Rocketship Public Schools (left) and Novus SMART Academy (K-8) (right) (Photo by Rutherford County Schools)
Rutherford County School Board members voted Thursday night to deny applications from what would have been the county’s fourth and fifth public charter schools.
Leaders of the proposed Novus SMART Academy (K-8) want to provide students with a co-teaching model in literacy and math along with a science, math, arts/electives, research, and technology (SMART) focus. The other applicant, Rocketship Public Schools, already operates three charter schools in Nashville and hopes to expand further into Davidson County and Rutherford County this year. Rocketship focuses particularly on serving low-income areas with a focus on diversity and in its application, had planned a community school model with wraparound services for local families. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit organization under an independent contract or “charter” with a school district or the state.
This is the second time Novus SMART has applied to open a charter school in Rutherford County. School board members voted down the charter operator’s application last July and school leaders failed to win approval on appeal to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.
During Thursday’s meeting, board members expressed concerns about charter school performance and the fiscal impact adding two new charters could have on the district. However, several said they wanted to see Rocketship revise its application and resubmit it.
Under state law both applicants will have the ability to submit an amended application for vote this summer.
“I do have some concerns, so that’s why I’m supporting the denial at this point, but I do think there is opportunity there, that the concerns can be addressed,” said Zone 3 Member Caleb Tidwell.
“So, this is just to give them the time to address those concerns to come back so that we can get an agreement that’s a little more favorable,” said Vice Chair Frances Rosales.
Before the vote, several members of the community spoke in favor of Rocketship, all of whom have had firsthand experience with the charter operator. Dominique Smith is a Rutherford County parent who is also the principal at LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School, a charter school in Nashville. She previously worked at a Rocketship school in California and spoke highly of the organization’s approach to teacher development and the welcoming and diverse environments it fosters within its schools.
“As an educator, I know the importance of quality instruction but as a mom, I’m drawn to Rocketship’s complete approach to building a school community,” Smith told board members. “Rutherford is a fast-growing community and many of our schools are overpopulated. We need more schools and Rocketship knows how to build a great school from the ground up.”
Alejandra Beltran is a kindergarten teacher at Rocketship United Academy in Antioch. She told board members the sense of community she’s experienced there has made a major impact on her and her students.
“Rocketship has given me the tools and resources to grow as a teacher in order to help grow my students as well. I live in the community, and I’d love to be a part of opening a school that reflects the diversity in the area,” she said.
Jade Taylor is a human resources director for Rocketship Public Schools and a middle Tennessee native. She says her work with the charter operator has shown her how effective its model is.
“For my own daughter, I want her to have an opportunity to attend high-quality schools, one that’s close to home,” said Taylor. “Excellence during the early years is important because it sets you up for success in middle school, high school, and beyond. Rocketship is intentional about that work.”
Novus SMART and Rocketship are among the 11 proposed charter schools that school boards across the state are voting on this month.