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Health & Fitness

Will South Cobb Get a New Charter School?

The Smyrna Academy of Excellence is applying to be a state chartered special school and is asking for the help and support of the community.

The Smyrna Academy of Excellence, a proposed charter school in South Cobb County,  is asking for the help and support of the community.  The vision for having better education options in the South Cobb area is stronger than ever, but the organization needs the support and financial backing from the community for this vision to become a reality.   

Hundreds of local parents, educators, and residents in Cobb County have anxiously been watching the progress of the proposed charter school, which has certainly had it's share of highs and lows in recent months.    Supporters of the school were greatly disappointed when the Cobb County Board of Education denied their county charter application after months of cooperation with county administration.   

As a result, The Smyrna Academy of Excellence is shifting direction. 

The grassroots efforts of organizers of the school caught the attention of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement who invited the proposed school to apply for the third and final round of a $12 million dollar Race to the Top Grant.

The Georgia Department of Education also reached out to the school after the petition failed to pass the CCSD vote and encouraged them to explore becoming a state chartered special school.  The petition to the state was submitted late last week and SAE is now preparing for the next steps in the application process.  

"The support from the South Cobb community received so far has been encouraging.  However, to be granted a state charter, we have to demonstrate substancial support from community," says Jimmy Arispe, Board Chairman for the Smyrna Academy of Excellence  "Our goal is to collect $500,000 in donations before August 15.   This would ease the reliance on grant chasing and better focus efforts on building a quality school."

Supporters can support the school in the form of donations, letters of support, and pre-registrations.  Donations of any size are welcome, and even if a donation is not possible, “likes” on Facebook are happily accepted.

Here is how you can help:

  • Visit saesupport.org and Pre-Register your child(ren) and Sign a Letter of Support. 
  • Make a tax deductible donation in any amount (however large or small) to demonstrate financial backing
  • Come to the SAE's Chick-fil-A Spirit Night on Tuesday July 24 from 5-8pm on the corner of South Cobb Drive and Church Road.  If enough supporters attend, SAE will receive 10% of the sales that evening. 
  • Purchase tickets to the SAE's Comedy Night Fundraiser which will take place at McCray's Tavern in West Village at 8pm Saturday August 11, 2012. The event sold out last time, so they encourage you to purchase your tickets early.  Tickets to the event, featuring Atlanta's funniest stand up comedians from The Laughing Skull Lounge, are $25 a piece.  All proceeds will go to SAE.
  • Learn of other funding options by visiting saesupport.org



For more on SAE, visit www.smyrnaacademyofexcellence.org; on Facebook and on Twitter @Smyrna_A_of_E

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