Macon parents want answers after charter school superintendent was abruptly fired

Frustrated Macon parents and community members are calling the abrupt layoff of Cirrus Academy Charter School’s former superintendent, Gail Fowler, a bad move.

The state charter school’s governing board voted 5-1 last week via Zoom to release Fowler. With only two weeks left until classes resume, stakeholders said they will fight to reinstate Fowler’s leadership, which they say valued student success and personal relationships with their children.

Alesia Waller-Evans, said she was shocked when she heard Fowler announce her termination in a YouTube video on Friday morning.

“It’s just not what I thought Dr. Fowler was going to say,” Waller-Evans said. “If you look at how the school started versus now, there’s so much that she’s done.”

Waller-Evans credited Fowler’s leadership for the improvement of her children’s reading levels. She said she doesn’t understand why the board would disrupt the charter school’s overall progression by removing Fowler.

In a recent email response, Cirrus Academy said the decision to part ways with Fowler was a mutual agreement reached after careful consideration.

“Dr. Fowler has been an integral part of Cirrus Academy since its inception, and her contributions have been invaluable. The transition marks a new chapter for the school as we aim to build upon the strong foundation she established,” the school said.

The school at 1870 Pio Nono Ave. faced academic shortfalls , financial troubles and operational and governance issues since its opening eight years ago — all of which Fowler said were resolved under her leadership in her video.

“To the parents of the scholars at Cirrus Academy, thank you first of all for having faith in a struggling school that was not supposed to make it,” she said.

Fowler had served as the school’s superintendent and CEO since 2019.

Stacy Jones Jr., a rising sixth grader at the school, was upset after discovering that Fowler would not be returning with him next year.

“I just feel sad because she was a great person,” said Jones, who has been under her direction since first grade. “She made sure that we were good. She made sure that we had fun after school and (got) a good education.”

‘We got to link together’

Stacy Jones Sr. said he was initially reluctant to publicly address the situation due to his son’s enrollment, but the dire circumstances dictated a change.

“All of the parents, we got to link together,” he said. “Somebody got to speak up because this lady don’t deserve this. We saw this school become nothing to something through Dr. Fowler.”

Shelia Hogan is a volunteer as Cirrus Academy’s primary parent representative. She said that she intends to speak with the charter school’s new temporary head, Barry Williams, and hold a parent meeting to address their collective concerns.

“It is our intention as parents to get Dr. Fowler back in place,” Hogan said. “That’s our ultimate goal, but it also depends on her decision.”

Waller-Evans said some parents have considered leaving the school because the governing board has not given their voices a chance to be heard in the decision-making process.

This wouldn’t be the first time that stakeholders complained about the governing board’s lack of transparency, according to past reporting by WGXA and the Macon Newsroom .

Cirrus Academy said it values parent engagement and has offered opportunities for stakeholders to reach out to the board at this time of leadership transition. The school said it has publicized scheduled board meetings and their agendas.

The school also said some parents attended the virtual meeting. But there was no motion for an oral public comment after board members returned from their three-hour executive session.

If Fowler’s superintendent role isn’t restored, and the core of the school changes, then Jones said he will withdraw his son.

Waller-Evans said parents remain uncertain about what to expect from the charter school.

“Here we are, two weeks before school, and we don’t know whether we’re coming or going,” she said. “I just hope and pray that the community and parents of the school come together and that the board takes time to listen to us…”

What’s next?

Six days after the announcement, Hogan said the parent body still doesn’t know why Fowler was released. Some Cirrus Academy stakeholders speculate that the reason pertains to money and ulterior motives.

“It’s hectic not knowing what this fight is about,” Hogan said. “It’s hard not to wonder if it’s about the money. I don’t know how everything works financially, but ... why else would they be after her? She has done such great work for Cirrus Academy.”

The school said any allegations suggesting that Dr. Fowler’s termination was due to financial reasons are unfounded, as its “financial stability and commitment to academic excellence remain strong.”

As the Cirrus Academy is in search of a permanent superintendent, it said it is committed to providing regular updates on the progress of the search to ensure transparency throughout the process.

Hogan said she prays that the school will be able to move forward.

“Because at the end of the day, it’s not about Dr. Fowler or the board,” Hogan said. “It’s about the scholars getting an outstanding education.”