Novus SMART Academy Approval Brings a Fourth Public Charter School to Rutherford County

Novus SMART founder Jeremy Sager (right) talking to families (Photo by Novus SMART)

Rutherford County School Board members voted to approve one public charter school Thursday night and narrowly denied another. The county opened three public charter schools last year, and the 4-3 vote clears the way for Novus SMART Academy (K-8) to open next year.

Thursday’s approval follows a year-and-a-half effort by founder Jeremy Sager to establish a school in Rutherford County. He initially applied last year, only to see board members vote against their own charter review team’s recommendation in support of Novus SMART.

Sager reapplied this year, proposing the same Two-Educator Model that will include a licensed educator and a teacher in residence in every classroom. The school will additionally provide kindergarten through eighth-grade students with a SMART (science, math, arts/electives, research, and technology) focus.

History of Success

Chelsie Bennett speaking at Thursday’s meeting (screengrab)

Before voting to approve Novus SMART, board members heard from Chelsie Bennett. She taught middle school literacy under the leadership of Jeremy Sager twice at charter schools in Nashville.

Bennett says students thrived, especially those who are English language learners.

“During both times under his leadership, I witnessed test scores skyrocket in two different school districts in two parts of the city, achieving TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) Level 5 Reward school status,” said Bennett. “I understand that investing in charter schools here in Rutherford County is a newer venture, but it’s a promising one.”

Supporters Cite Need for New Schools While Opponents Question Finances

Board members Tammy Sharp, Katie Darby, Stan Vaught, and Vice-Chair Frances voted in support of Novus SMART, while Chair Claire Maxwell, Butch Vaughn, and Caleb Tidwell voted against it.

Unlike last year, the district’s charter review team recommended denial in part because Novus SMART is no longer receiving a $250 thousand grant supporters were initially hoping to have for the first year.

“They just didn’t qualify, and it showed them areas that (they) need to improve on, and if they do that, they can come back at a later date and reapply,” said Board Member Vaughn. “The committee didn’t approve them, and I have to support our committee.”

Supporters on the board expressed confidence that Novus SMART’s leadership will be able to overcome the loss of funding.  Board Member Sharp also pointed out the financial challenges the new school will help address within the district.

“It’s not a secret that we’re overcrowded on the north end,” said Sharp. “When we authorize a charter school under Rutherford County Schools, we do not have to pay to build that building. You all know we’re paying $160 million to build a building. We can not tax our seniors and our residents of this county enough to build the schools that we need.”

Rocketship Public Schools Narrowly Denied

Two board members who supported Novus SMART voted against a separate public charter school application from Rocketship Public Schools. Rosales and Vaught joined Vaughn and Maxwell to vote down the proposed expansion of the charter operator’s personalized learning model into Rutherford County, while Tidwell, Darby, and Sharp voted for it.

The district charter review team recommended denial for Rocketship. Board Member Rosales served on that team, and she said the application had discrepancies that she encouraged Rocketship to fix for next year.

“I believe there’s just a couple of things that need to be addressed and be brought back before the committee to review,” said Rosales. “We only have one shot to get this right, to make it right.”

Rocketship currently operates three elementary schools in Nashville. Tidwell says the performance of those schools is a big reason why he supported the application to expand.

“Rocketship Dream outperformed six of ten Rutherford County elementary schools in the Smyrna LaVergne area,” said Tidwell. “Are they ready?  I think that they financially are probably the most ready of the ones that we have had. Their academic record is pretty solid.”

Rocketship will have the option of appealing the denial to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission in the fall.