The Columbus group hoping to open a local charter school in the city has submitted a complete application to the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board.
Darren Leach, proposed chief executive office of Inspire Charter School, said he submitted a complete application Friday to the state board. The application was due Monday. Leach said he submitted 24 of the 26 required forms Monday but was locked out of the online system when he failed to make the 3 p.m. deadline.
Charter schools are publicly funded and do not charge tuition. They are run by private groups that agree to meet certain standards in exchange for less regulation. The Columbus school would serve children living within the city limits.
The completed application for a charter is the second one the Columbus group has submitted to the state board. The first was voted down this summer.
In the first application, Inspire Charter School hoped to open an elementary school and a high school.
This time around, if granted the charter, Leach said the school would focus solely on an elementary school but would potentially offer after-school programs for children of all ages.
Golden Triangle native and Michigan based educator Reddell Holmes has been named as the principal for the school, Leach said.
When asked why he submitted the second application, Leech responded, “I just want to help.”
The state board received seven charter applications. The board will vote on the applications in December.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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