Alabama Public Charter School Commission revokes approval of Dothan-area school

The Alabama Public Charter School Commission Monday voted to revoke approval of a Dothan-area school, citing concerns over finances and governance. (Getty)

The Alabama Public Charter School Commission voted Monday to revoke the approval of a Dothan-area charter school, citing concerns over finance and governance.

The vote on the Barnabas School of Leadership came just over two months after the commission voted to begin the process of revocation, after commissioners concluded the school had not met pre-opening conditions.

In their application to the commission, Barnabas officials wrote that the school would aim to improve “student’s learning, academic performance and ultimately life choices.” Officials said that its curriculum aimed to focus on students’ strengths, rather than weaknesses.

Darryl Roberts, the founder and executive director of the school, said in a phone interview after the meeting concluded on Monday that he felt that the commission had already decided to revoke the charter before the meeting.

“So my question they never answered when we were in the March 7 hearing, what does it benefit the commission to revoke the charter of a charter school?” he said. “That is trying to open in an area where it’s needed and to say, ‘We hope you regroup and reapply,’ when they could have given us an extension to regroup and open?”

The school would have opened this August.

Logan Searcy, the executive director of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission, told the commission in November that the school had not met pre-opening conditions. Roberts blamed technical issues for the delays in making submissions. Searcy said the school could have sent the necessary documents to her and allowed her to upload them directly to the site.

In a January presentation, Searcy cited several concerns with Barnabas, including a lack of meeting schedules; questions about the school’s assets; questions of future funding and a lack of provided policies, including on special education.

The commission had voted in January to deny the school a new building after it could no longer operate in the building from their application.

Searcy’s presentation included that an accountant’s compilation said they did not audit or review financial statements of the school. Commissioner Ryan Kendall said that a statement from the CPA said the school did not provide financial statements.

Lane Knight, the board’s attorney, said that they would work with the school on the closing protocol, which in the past has meant notifying enrolled students that they would need to find other options.

“That’s probably the primary thing,” he said.

The school can submit another application in the future, said Knight, and Commissioner Marla Green encouraged Roberts to try again.

“Like you said, Dothan needs or would greatly benefit by a charter school,” she said. “So your efforts didn’t go unnoticed.”

Roberts told the commission at the end of the meeting that they would see them again.

“We felt that we should have gotten an extension, but I pray that you voted out of your heart and not out of loyalty to something else, so you will see us again,” he said. “Thank you so much.

The school had previously received an extension, and another extension was denied at the Monday meeting.

The school is not the first to lose its charter before opening. Woodland Prep, which would have opened in south Alabama, lost its charter in 2020, according to al.com. The commission said the school did not meet pre-opening conditions; did not adhere to generally accepted financial practices and did not establish community support.

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