These schools, of which there are 59 in Ohio, often serve a niche demographic that can benefit from a more flexible, atypical learning environment. Locally, Miamisburg and West Carrollton city schools have successful conversion charter schools.
The Springboro board voted 4-1 this month to pay The Callender Group $15,000 to study this issue. The school would be housed at the site of the former Jonathan Wright Elementary School, which closed in 2009, at 40 Florence Drive.
This idea, which will be further discussed and voted on at a January board meeting, has sparked debate in Springboro.
While some school board members said they believe a conversion school could fill an academic need and possibly generate revenue for the district, others said they feel the concept would dismantle the top-rated district and take resources away from the bulk of its students.
David Petroni, the board member who suggested the concept, said he did not know what demographic the school would serve but wanted to find an alternative that would support the district financially and the kids academically.
“I am focusing on curriculum and academics in the district, and the fact that this may have a side financial benefit,” he said. “We have academic challenges and are looking at another way to address that.”
Board President Kelly Kohls said she sees the school as potentially serving the district’s large gifted population, whose services have been cut in recent years. Board member Jim Rigano said he sees the conversion school as a possible option for some of Springboro’s younger students, since Jonathan Wright was built for that population.
“The building creates a focus for it, if you will,” Rigano said. “It’s more about, how can we use an unused asset.”
School board member Don Miller said he voted against the concept because he doesn’t think the district has an unmet need that a conversion school would fill.
“We’ve got issues, don’t get me wrong, but this is what happens when you have a school board in which not all of its members totally support traditional public education,” Miller said. “I don’t believe we need to have a conversion school in our district.”
He said he also sees this idea as a financial conflict because it would take resources out of the district’s existing schools.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, Springboro Community City Schools receives a base payment of $6,153 from the state for each student who attends the district. If a student goes to a charter school, including a conversion charter school, that money follows that student to that school.
“I’m not talking just money; but teachers and students also,” Miller said. “I would rather keep that money in Springboro Community City Schools and work with the administration to develop a service model in any area that is perceived as a need.”
Some local parents questioned why the board was moving so quickly, and why it had to spend money to study the concept.
“All of a sudden, we’re in a big hurry to spend $15,000 that we don’t have,” said Todd Smith, an engineer and Springboro parent. “There are tons of resources that don’t cost us money that we could use to decide. Why don’t we invest in our teachers to deal with this rather than ship it out?”
Rusty Clifford, superintendent of West Carrollton City Schools, said his school opened its conversion charter school in September. West Carrollton Secondary Academy is an outgrowth of a credit after-school program and an academic online program for students whose life situations required flexible coursework.
He said the district did not hire a firm to study the concept, but watched and worked with the Miamisburg Secondary Academy — an established conversion school under Miamisburg City Schools — for a year and a half to two years before deciding to pursue this avenue for West Carrollton.
“My belief system is that we want to go to somebody who’s having success,” Clifford said. “Miamisburg was not only doing it, but doing it very well. They have been tremendous mentors for us.”
Petroni, who lists charter school facility finance and development services among his specialties on his real estate business profile, said there is no conflict with his two roles.
“I’m not making a dime on this,” Petroni said. “The board will make the decision moving forward.”
He said the Concord Twp.-based Callender Group, which Petroni has worked with on non-charter school issues, was brought in because they are experts on charter school law, state financial formulas and the like.
Jamie Callender, founder and managing partner of the consulting group, said he also did not see a conflict.
“What (Petroni) does is real estate related and facilities financing, and in the conversion school model there wouldn’t be any connection because there is no real estate acquisition to create a conflict of interest,” Callender said.
Callender added that his job is to look at the possibilities specific to Springboro, from a neutral position, and see if the concept makes sense academically and financially.
“It’s not for every district, and we have to take an honest look,” he said.
Clifford said West Carrollton’s conversion charter school is working out very well for his district, and has broken even financially.
“It doesn’t cost us money, but it’s not a source of revenue for the district or anybody else,” he said. “That’s just how the funds flow when this happens.”
Miller also noted that Jonathan Wright, which is being used as a community center/food bank and by Living Water Lutheran Church, currently generates money for the district.
“It’s making money, there’s no burden to the general fund the way it stands, and it is providing a resource back into the community,” he said.
Jeff Madden, Springboro’s director of operations, said the former school earns close to $34,000 annually via the church. The district does not charge the community center for its use of the facility.
Superintendent Todd Petrey deferred to the school board and the study.
“My job is, in essence, to facilitate education for our community,” Petrey said. “If they feel that we need to look at alternative methods of researching that, then I will support it.”
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