After much deliberation, the Prince George’s County Board of Education (BOE) bestowed a one-year conditional renewal on Turning Point Academy (TPA) at their June 28 meeting. Although far from being the five-year renewal that TPA staff, students and parents were looking for, the decision at least means that a possible closure of the school has been delayed for now. The BOE placed an amendment on the decision focusing on the governing ability of its board’s executive director, Paul Shackelford. Within the next three months a set of criteria to evaluate his performance will be developed in concert between Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and TPA.
While insufficient academic performance and the lack of a proper and safe facility were under scrutiny, much of the debate at the June 28 meeting by BOE members centered on the issue of TPA’s executive director and the effectiveness of its governing board. Based upon the evaluation, the future role and status of the executive director will be determined. According to PGCPS public information officer, John White, the BOE has recommended professional development and board training to TPA to improve its governance issue.
Said White, it will be “highly likely” that a representative of PGCPS, chosen by both the BOE and TPA, will be placed on the TPA board to act as a liaison.
Read more of this story in the July 5 News Review.