School board approves capacity expansion for Skillern Elementary amid opposition

SODDY-DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hamilton County school board approved an expansion of capacity for a Soddy-Daisy charter school.

They are allowing Skillern Elementary at Ivy Academy to expand their capacity by nearly one hundred students, or a 20 percent expansion over the next two school years.

Skillern is the elementary wing of Ivy Academy, which is privately run but publicly funded.

Ivy Academy CEO Angie Markum said it was needed to avoid firing two kindergarten teachers and turning away dozens of applicants.

However, in a six to four vote along partisan lines, Democratic members of the board questioned if the school, which feeds the middle and high schools at Ivy Academy, was following their charter agreement.

Markum said, “If this is not allowed it affects us right away. Immediately this year teachers would have to be fired. Families will have to be notified that despite 88 new students being brought in… we can only bring in 40 new students.”

School board member Jill Black said, “What you’re telling me is you have kids and families that have already come to your school thinking that their kids have a seat at Ivy and there’s already kids in your building you aren’t gonna have a seat at Ivy. Your charter says if they want a seat it says that they have a seat at Ivy, but you’ve taken more kids than you had seats at Ivy. That feels irresponsible to me.”

All Republican members present voted for the expansion.

Ivy Academy will have to present an updated plan on how to handle transitioning students to their middle and high schools by the end of June to the school board.