What a sad day in the Queen City. Just as families everywhere celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday, my family is scratching our heads figuring out what to do with our budding entrepreneur. For four months, my daughter has been attending Entrepreneur Charter High School and absolutely loving it. She went from being a complete introvert to being on the principals honor roll, and increasing her business, Cassie’s Sweetz (organic lactation treats for nursing moms). That’s progress.Now that the school is closed, she has no where to go. Going to the community college seems to much for her. Going to our CMS home school is not even on the table. Someone mentioned a nearby charter school…. well, we are not sold on that option either based on the overall student demographics. They target at risk kids. Sorry Cassie isn’t one of them. We want EHS BACK!
“It’s just been a hot mess. It’s been very bad. It’s embarrassing to see a situation get here this quickly,” state board member Becky Taylor said. “I just don’t see how we can continue on with this school.” The CharlotteObserver
The main thing I learned was that the money follows the student. It was made very clear is this experience. Entrepreneur Charter High School did not have enough students, leading to shaky finances.
Kelle Pressley says her daughter loves the school. She’s a culinary student with strong career goals. “The concept of entrepreneurship is wonderful,” Pressley said. “I just think it should have been planned more strategically than it was.” “I think with getting the right partners, it can be resurrected,” she said. WSOC
When the students breakfast and lunch was taken away I didn’t think much of it. Then the transportation to and from school ended. My husband called it! He said, “It’s over Cassie. Your school won’t be around much longer.” But I still believed it would work out. We, parents were kept in the dark about a lot of what was going on. I did my own investigation and learned that they were advised to wait a year before opening. The time would have given them the advantage of a much needed learning curve. I wish they would have taken that advice.
“As we are able to fix the situation with the state, we’ll invite them back,” Hillman said of the students. “If we are not able to, they’re where they need to be.”-MyInforms.com
As the two- week president of the school, I’m still getting news about the school that I didn’t know before,like this one for example, via Erika Hayes, of WCNC : After reports that the school had just $14 in its bank account earlier this week, Hillman admits they ran out of money prematurely. He says the board does have plans to regroup, raise money, and hopefully reopen at a new location sometime next year. Here are four reasons to bring back Entrepreneur High School: 1. Big businesses can improve their workforce. The school is sending out with a high school diploma and career ready skills. Their future employees will save them training dollars. UUugh, hello; Nascar, Duke Energy Center, Barrington’s Restaurant, BE&K Building Group, a KBR Company,Basil Thai, Rodgers Builders Inc.,Caromont Regional Medical Center, Cox Schepp Construction Inc.,Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Choate Construction Co.,Aria Tuscan Grill, the Sonic Automotive Inc., Bistro La Bon, CMC, Balfour Beatty Construction, Copper– (just naming a few) These children need you! 2. The community should care because of the positive transition in the students life. Rabbi Yehuda says: He that does not teach his son a trade, teaches him to rob. Entrepreneur High School teaches their students to be self sufficient. Many courses they offer will ensure that they will be able to financially take care of themselves. 3.Charlotte families should support the school because introverts, students that want to learn without behavior distractions, and have the freedom to discover what they want to do when “they grow up” may do so in a supportive environment. 4. The State should support this because if more children had options. Tax payers would spend less on prisons. I personally would rather put my money on empowering students to become self reliant, supporting charter schools to be successful and creating learning environments that best fit each student.
Kelly Pressley has a daughter enrolled. She came to entrepreneur to hone her skills and love for culinary arts (see Cassie’s Sweetz) – one that will come to an end this week. Presley said, “She herself is trying to figure out what to do next, because she doesn’t have an option of going back into CMS or being home schooled.”
There are two things that could save this school – funding to the tune of 400 thousand dollars which would pay teacher salaries – utilities like power, heat, and water.The school has until February to get financing or be controlled by another charter school, but until then – they simply can’t afford to stay open. But that’s just my two cents…….. Have a great MLK weekend! QC Supermom More details here: WCNC.com More charter schools to open
UPDATE::::: “It may not even return as a Charter school” See video here.