State denies Regis Academy Charter School application
After a Department of Education readiness walk-though inspection last week, one final step in charter school approval, DOE Assistant Commissioner and Chief Innovation Officer Evo Popoff announced today that Regis Academy Charter School would not be opening its doors this fall.
The DOE cited Regis in misrepresentations made by the school in the charter application, along with no proof of a suitable facility for its students by the June 29 deadline, among other things.
All of this was detailed in the July 6 letter sent to Pastor Amir Khan, Cherry Hill Superintendent Maureen Reusche, Voorhees Superintendent Raymond Brosel and other school officials.
“Misrepresentations and a lack of forthrightness by Regis in the application and during the review process up to and including the preparedness review amply support this conclusion,” Popoff writes. “Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:36A-17.1, you are hereby advised to inform immediately the parents of enrolled students that a charter will not be granted in order to facilitate the placement of all students for the 2012–2013 academic year in the students’ district of residence.”
Reusche and Board of Education President Seth Klukoff released a joint statement indicating their support of the DOE’s decision.
“The district’s objections to this charter application have been well documented and we are glad that the Commissioner has decided not to grant final approval.”
Earlier this week, the Cherry Hill School District announced that the walk-through occurred at a location other that the one Solid Rock Worship Center currently leases.
Susan Bastnagel, the district’s public information officer, said the inspection occurred at 202 Park Boulevard in Cherry Hill, not at 99 Burnt Mill Road, the site of Pastor Amir Khan’s worship center.
Solid Rock was in a rent-to-own agreement with Holy Eucharist Parish.
Last week, the parish filed a Warrant of Removal, said Peter Feuerherd, Director of Communications, Diocese of Camden.
“In general, it was a failure to pay and failure to live up to the agreement,” Feuerherd said.
Khan has failed to purchase the building in full past previous deadlines, Feuerherd said. The most recent agreement between the parish and Khan requested the property be paid in full by Jan. 3 of this year.
The school, originally set to open on the parish property, anticipated 78 students to attend from the four original sending school districts of Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Lawnside and Somerdale.
In addition, Regis Academy received approval to expand its reach to students from other municipalities. Another 187 students from other districts, including some from Lindenwold, Sicklerville and Camden, have also registered to attend Regis. Altogether, students from 21 other local districts applied to start at the charter school this fall.
Pastor Amir Khan could not yet be reached for comment.
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