From Jeri Young
Prattville
I would like to address the article written on May 18, 2021 in the Montgomery Advertiser, about Ivy Classical Academy supposed set back due to legislation not passing.
I find this really intriguing on multiple levels. First one is this, if Bradley Neave is so determined to have this Charter School in a location that is physically located in Elmore County in the High Point Shopping Center, why doesn’t he just amend/change the application to show that this charter school will be physically located in Elmore County? I personally do not see the Al Charter Commission declining this at all. Just as the Autauga County BOE is not a qualified authorizer, neither is Elmore County BOE.
To which begs a second question as to why Bradley Neave quoted that he now has a “champion in the House who has committed to sponsoring the bill next session. Until then we can open in a temporary campus to begin operations in fall of 2022.” Who would that be? During the session that just ended, his state representative had every opportunity to help pass legislation that would have allowed the school to be located outside of county line, but he failed to do so. Why?
Maybe because it’s a bad idea?
Why does Bradley Neave want to continue this absolute BOGUS amendment to the Al Charter School Mandate (which DOES NOT serve every single family that has school aged children in Alabama)? Why continue with this amendment when it could very well open up a pandora’s box with lawsuits beginning with our own ACBOE suing to be able to build a school inside the city limits of Prattville but located in Elmore County. Or, residents, who are inside the city limits but physically located in Elmore County could sue to have their children attend Autauga County Schools since they live in the city limits. What then? What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander. What is his main goal?
The shelf life of a charter school nationwide is seven to ten years. Charter School certificates are issued for five years and then each must be reviewed by the commission to determine if it will be extended. The number one reason most charter schools FAIL within first five years is due to NO CONSISTANT OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES. So, the City Council is considering saddling taxpayers with a 30-year bond issue to fund an experimental school that may only last 10 years?
Bradley Neave has asked Prattville taxpayers for $22.8M, plus a portion of sales tax. Where/who is Ivy Classical Academy’s other financial sources? Since little information is being provided by the City, the perception is that Prattville taxpayers will be footing the entire bill from groundbreaking to maintaining the school. I believe Mr. Neave needs to go back and read the Al Charter School mandate code 16-6F then go read the funding section.
Based on his recent words, he asked the City Council on April 20, 2021 to get a “piece of the pie” and to “level the playing field” as to what the Autauga County BOE was asking in their presentation for the one-cent sales tax that the council has to determine if to keep the tax or to “sunset” it. How would this be a “level playing field” when ACBOE does not get any revenue from sales taxes collected inside the City of Prattville AND this only will benefit about 10% of the student population, about 9,000 which about 6,500 are inside the City limits, enrolled in Autauga County Public Schools? Doesn’t that seem like a hefty price tag for a school that has a relatively short shelf AND wants to physically locate OUTSIDE of Autauga County?
Then, what are the odds that Bradley Neave will come back and ask for MORE MONEY to set up this temporary school location? In my mind, if you have a place to temporarily set up a school INSIDE the boundaries of Autauga County, why not make it permanent? It’s either Elmore County or Autauga County, NOT BOTH! Long after he and current elected city council members are gone, we the residents of Prattville, will still be paying for this debacle. I know I don’t want to. Do you?
I can speculate the answers to the questions I have posed here; however, I refrain from doing so.
Jeri Young
City of Prattville resident
