Maxine Bailey
The Hamilton County School Board on Thursday night approved the first local charter school.
The Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy is set to open next July.
The school board earlier twice turned down a request for a charter school by the environmentally-focused Ivy Academy. But on Friday, the state board of education approved that charter school.
Dr. Gary Nixon, executive director of the State Board of Education, had recommended that the state board overrule the Hamilton County School Board and approve the Ivy Academy charter.
Maxine Bailey, who spearheaded a year-long effort to get the all-girls charter school, said there will be a national search for a school director. Ms. Bailey, the former executive director of Girls Inc., is currently serving as the executive director of the Young Women's Leadership Academy Foundation.
She said the school is looking at two sites - the old Franklin Middle School in Alton Park and the old James A. Henry School on the Westside.
Ms. Bailey said the 6-12 academy it will start with 50 sixth graders and 25 ninth graders. It will add grades each year until reaching the 6-12 configuration.
The school plans to eventually have 350 students.
Ms. Bailey said it will be announced later when enrollment will open.
She said school leaders now need to work out a contract with the county schools.
Ms. Bailey said, "I'm so thrilled and so proud of our team. I think our team is up to this challenge."
The school will open in July because it will be operated as a "year-round school."
Dr. Rick Smith told the school board that the charter application got high marks from county school administrators in each of the graded areas.