January 20, 2012

Heron Bay Academy had been granted a School Charter by the Georgia Charter School Commission and was originally due to open for the 2011 – 2012 school year. However, since the State Charter School Commission was deemed null and void by the Georgia Supreme Court, the Heron Bay Academy School Board has decided to await further news from the State Legislator regarding an alternative to the local school districts granting a Charter before continuing with the school, therefore Heron Bay Academy will NOT open for the academic year 2013.

Please continue to review the website for any future developments.

The Board would like to thank all parties that have been involved with the proposed school to date.

The next Heron Bay Academy Board meeting will take place on Thursday June 2, 2011 at 5:30 pm, immediately followed by a Parent Informational Session beginning at 6:30 pm.  The gathering will be held at the Heron Bay Lodge located at 3080 Heron Bay Boulevard, Locust Grove, GA 30248 and will provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions and learn more about next steps to bring charter school education to Henry and Spalding County.

On May 16, 2011 at 8:30 am the Georgia Supreme Court published its ruling on the October 2010 hearing affecting Georgia state commission charter schools.  We do not yet know the implications for Heron Bay Academy.

In the meantime, continuing to educate our students remains our top priority.  We are concerned about the Georgia Supreme Court ruling and are hopeful that the Georgia legislature, Georgia Board of Education, and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal will assist us in preserving Heron Bay Academy and all schools that provide a tuition free educational choice for families throughout our state.

We encourage all family and friends of Heron Bay Academy to contact their local state senator and Georgia house representative today.  Our legislative representatives serve geographic districts throughout the state, which do not necessarily correspond with county lines.  To learn in which district you reside, use the following link to enter your home mailing address: www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress/  The right column will show the name of one state senator and one house representative along with the Georgia district number corresponding to your resident address.  An appropriate communication to our legislators might include the following:

“Dear Senator (or House Representative):

I am a current resident of your district and am extremely disappointed by the GA Supreme Court ruling on May 16, 2011 regarding commission charter schools.  I am strongly in favor of GA state charter commission schools and the opportunity they provide for educational choice for all of Georgia’s students.

I encourage you to support and vote in favor of an amendment to the GA constitution to allow state approved charter schools.

Sincerely…”

The Board of Directors would like to add at least two (2) new members before its June 2011 board meeting, bringing the total board membership to seven (7).  If you are interested in being considered as a board member for Heron Bay Academy, Inc., visit Board Info subtab How to Become and HBA Board Member on this website to download an application.