GPB's MICHAEL CAPUTO

The superintendent of construction for the new school had said that this building's gonna be ready to turn over on August the 17th. That's two weeks after school starts. Number one, is that correct? Have I assessed that correct? And what's your "Plan B" if it doesn't—if it's not ready for August the 3rd.

CHARLES RUTLAND, MACON CHARTER ACADEMY

I can give you first-hand knowledge about the conversation between Macon Charter Academy and the contractor. The contractor has said the building would be turned over no later than August 17th. And I think that's an important distinction to make. It's important to note that by all estimates, architects and engineers, a fifteen month project. And we've compressed it into five months. And the success of this project shouldn't be based on whether we do it in five months or five months and two weeks. It is a success by any measure, and I want to make that point. However, Macon Charter Academy scholars will report for school and be on duty as of August 3rd, 2015. And that is an important point to make. However, we will have our first week of school at the Macon Centerplex.

We're going to have a math festival. We're gonna have science activities. We're gonna have motivational speakers. It will be a grand opening extravaganza. We're also going to take that time, being a new school, to give reading and math assessments to our entire student body.  And the activities and the events that we have planned are much more conducive—that environment is much more conducive than the typical school environment. And, then, after that, we are going to march triumphantly into our new facilities—technologically-advanced facilities at 151 Madison Street.

CAPUTO

So, just to reprise...the Macon Centerplex? Is that right?

RUTLAND

Yes.

CAPUTO

Is going to be where the kids are going to meet for the first week or the first two weeks?

RUTLAND

The first week of school.

CAPUTO

And, if, that second week, the building isn't ready?

RUTLAND

If that were necessary, we'd make alternative plans, but I don't think that's going to be the case. The key point is that the contractor said, "No later than the 17th." When we began this process in March, the delivery date was September the 8th. Then the delivery date moved up to August 24th.  And then it moved up to August 17th. So it has moved several times, but it's always moved in our favor.  And barring any unforeseen, uncontrollable act of God, we don't think that our plans are off base. We think we've planned appropriately.

CAPUTO

Do the parents know this now?

RUTLAND

Yes, they do.

CAPUTO

When did you let them know?

RUTLAND

Just in the last 24 hours.

CAPUTO

The calling card of this school is the IB program.

RUTLAND

Yes.

CAPUTO

The International Baccalaureate program—the curriculum. You don't yet have IB status. Is that right or wrong? And what are you communicating about your IB status to parents?

RUTLAND

Well, certainly, IB status is a process for anyone who is familiar with it, and I would encourage people to familiarize themselves with what is involved and what it entails. The first process is an application for candidacy. We have completed that application—Macon Charter has. And we'll receive notice.

Again, within the last 24 hours, in fact, it was late last night. We received written notification from IB that our application for candidacy has been approved.

So I'm announcing here, at this moment, that Macon Charter Academy is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate program.

And that is the first public announcement of that.

CAPUTO

And so what does that mean, exactly?

RUTLAND

It means that, now, we are part of the IB family. We have been told that on, or before, September 1st we will be assigned an IB consultant, and that person will work one-on-one with our academic leadership team to move us towards implementing fully and completely the "K through 8" IB Program. And that's a process. That takes anywhere from two to three to three-and-a-half years. (NOTE - A look at the process can be found here)

CAPUTO

So the analogy might be what—the learner's permit and then the driver's license? You're getting your learner's permit, if you will.

RUTLAND

Yes, that's a reasonable, yes.

CAPUTO

Now, you are a part of the Bibb County School District. The District is, today, going to be going over its relationship with the two charter schools—yours and the other charter school, ACE (The Academy of Classical Education).  The District passes along its educational funding to charters, it says, as it would to other schools in the district. How would you assess that way of funding a charter school. Is that adequate?

RUTLAND

Well, on its face, I would have a hard time disagreeing with what you said. Sure, we should be funded as any other school—as an equal citizen and equal partner in this most important job of educating our young people, here, in Bibb County. It's hard to argue with that.  Now, the devil is in the details and when you look at the specifics in what people mean, particularly when they say, "As any other school." And I would have to have more detailed information.  The agreement that you speak of—I'm aware of its existence, but I haven't seen it yet.  I don't know the details of it, and so it might be premature for me to comment.

CAPUTO

The other charter school has been having a back-and-forth with the District about that funding. The District has said, in regards to ACE, "We're giving them funding as we would any other school."  And what they're saying is, "We're different."  Where do you stand on that, in terms of Macon Charter Academy. Are you different? Do you deserve a little bit more?

RUTLAND

Certainly, we're unique.  I would be quick to jump on that point. We're unique. We deserve full, fair and adequate funding to meet the needs of our scholars, the very important needs of our scholars.  I don't know if I can be more detailed than that at this time.  And any negotiations that we have with the District would be with the District face-to-face. I, certainly, wouldn't do that through a public medium.

CAPUTO  Are you in that negotiation now with them?

RUTLAND  It's a never-ending negotiation. Generally, you're familiar with the process.

CAPUTO  Just to sum up, you've got a couple more weeks, like I'm having to go and get the clothes and the pencil boxes and all that stuff for my kids. You're also getting ready. You feel like you're ready?

RUTLAND I think when you feel like you're ready, you're set up for trouble. No, we don't feel like we're ready, and we've never felt like we've been ready through this entire process.  It has been a humbling process. I have always, always felt wholly inadequate to execute what it is that we're about to execute.  But, somehow, some way, by hook, by crook, by fate and destiny, we've come this far.  So we are ready to continue to move forward, and we've got a great deal of hope, a great deal of optimism, and we're very, very excited.

CAPUTO  Charles Rutland, co-founder of Macon Charter Academy. Thanks for spending a few minutes with us.

RUTLANDThank you very much.

Tags: charter, charter school, Macon Charter Academy, education