Atlanta, GA
2 metro Atlanta charter schools could possibly close if state commission votes yes
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – All Jessica Foster and her husband wanted for their kids was a chance. They said the Cherokee Charter Academy gave them just that.
“Considering it is the only school that has given our special needs second grader an actual chance at grade level academics and inclusion with typical aged peers, it is literally priceless,” said Foster.
When they found out the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia is considering closing it, they were heartbroken.
“To say that we are shocked by the recommendation is an understatement,” said Foster.
“They know his name, they love him, they treat him just like all the other kids. They have been the ones who have been fighting for him,” said Jared Foster.
That sentiment is the same for parent, Summer Dunn, who has children attending the school as well. She said no other school in the county is like it.
“It’s smaller classrooms, the environment is different, the parent involvement is different. The children here are thriving,” said Dunn.
The commission is also considering closing Fulton Leadership Academy in East Point. The state said some of the reasoning for closure is that both schools did not meet academic eligibility criteria, and failed to meet certain financial standards.
“I know academically we were struggling for a minute. We brought that up and we are doing a whole new model here,” said Dunn.
The commission still needs to vote on Wednesday for this to be a sealed deal. Jessica Foster said she plans to show up at the meeting to show how much the school means to her family and numerous other parents with children enrolled.
“If we can just get a little more time,” said Dunn.
Cherokee Charter Academy sent a statement that reads:
Cherokee Charter Academy represents the only school of choice in Cherokee County and has proudly done so for more than 11 years. We were quite surprised and disheartened to hear that the State Charter Schools Commission staff is recommending non-renewal without legitimate basis. We’ve had nothing but positive interactions when commissioners and staff visited the school and saw the wonderful things happening. We believe we have met all financial standards and our academics have continuously improved over the past three years, currently placing the school in green status. The Commission has renewed other schools that have not even risen to the standard that we have achieved, which makes this recommendation even more perplexing. Parents are outraged that someone would want to try to take away their choice. It is our sincere hope that commissioners will listen to their constituents, review the facts, and rule in favor of renewal on Wednesday for the only option available for school choice in the county.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
SAN FRANCISCO — Robbie Ray was everything the Giants could ask for on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.
In a performance that continued a strong recent stretch, the 34-year-old went eight innings and gave up a single unearned run, leading San Francisco to a 3-2 win.
It was an outing that will only increase potential interest in Ray at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, one where the Giants figure to be busy after ending their first winning homestand since April with a record of 35-48.
The Braves, who remain in first place in the NL East, are 49-33.
Ray was perfect through four innings until Matt Olson broke up his run of 12 consecutive batters retired with a single to center to lead off the fifth.
His shutout bid was ruined in the eighth when Michael Harris II drove in Eli White with a sacrifice fly, but Ray buckled down and retired Ozzie Albies with a popup to center to end the inning.
The Giants got on the board when Luis Arraez scored in the sixth on an infield single by Rafael Devers, running home when Austin Riley’s throw bounced off Olson’s glove and trickled away from him down the right-field line. They scored again when Albies threw the ball past Olson on Jung Hoo Lee’s grounder to the right side, allowing Heliot Ramos to score.
Ramos made his return from a right quad strain Sunday and played in his first game with the Giants since May 15.
Arraez led off the inning with an infield single down the left-field line, and Ramos further set the table with a single to center. Arraez added on in the seventh, bringing in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Drew Gilbert, who had led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to center.
The Sunday matinee was attended by 33,138 fans. Next up for the Giants is a quick six-game trip that begins Monday with an evening game in Arizona and will continue with a three-game set in Colorado over the holiday weekend, starting Friday.
Check back for updates to this story.
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Top fast food chain report: Jersey Mike’s takes first place
After an 11-year run, Chick-fil-A is no longer the top-rated quick-service restaurant, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
A new survey suggests that if Georgia workers could choose any office in the state to work from, many would pick Chick-fil-A’s headquarters in Atlanta.
The survey from Resume.io asked more than 3,000 workers nationwide to identify the workplaces they would most like to work from if location were not a factor.
Participants were instructed to judge the office environment itself rather than salary, benefits, company culture or employer reputation.
Among Georgia locations, the Chick-fil-A Support Center ranked highest, followed by Porsche Cars North America’s headquarters in Atlanta.
Chick-fil-A tops Georgia list
The Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A Support Center ranked No. 17 nationally in the survey.
Researchers highlighted the campus-style setting, which includes landscaped grounds, gardens, walking trails and visitor experiences. The workplace was noted for having a more retreat-like atmosphere than a traditional office tower.
The support center serves as the corporate headquarters for the restaurant chain founded by S. Truett Cathy.
Porsche headquarters also earns recognition
Coming in at No. 30 nationally was the headquarters of Porsche Cars North America.
Located in metro Atlanta, the campus is home to the Porsche Experience Center and includes a driver development track, simulators, event space, training facilities and a vehicle restoration workshop.
The survey described the site as a workplace that immerses employees in the brand’s automotive culture.
What workers want from an office
According to Resume.io, respondents were asked to focus strictly on the physical workplace environment when making their selections.
The survey comes as many employers continue balancing in-office, hybrid and remote work arrangements.
Amanda Augustine, a career expert with Resume.io, said employee expectations have changed as flexible work has become more common.
“If people are going to spend time commuting and working onsite, the experience has to offer something more than a desk and fluorescent lighting,” Augustine said.
Which offices ranked highest nationwide?
Nationally, the top-ranked workplace was Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York City.
Other offices appearing near the top of the list included the PGA TOUR Global Home in Florida, Servco Pacific’s headquarters in Hawaii, Google’s St. John’s Terminal in New York and TikTok’s U.S. Data Security office in Arizona.
Georgia was one of only a handful of states to place two workplaces among the survey’s top 30 most desirable offices.
For more information, visit resume.io.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
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