Clayton Judge Orders Riverdale To Inspect Charter School

Even though Riverdale is in charge of inspections, Terrell blames the Clayton County School Board, because it turned down Utopian three times when the school applied for district charter status.

“I know it’s the school board. The city is in cahoots with the school board, but it’s the school board.”

City officials say they became involved after receiving several letters from the Clayton School District, who owns the building. They say the school system told them the school was not supposed to be in the building because it was leased by a third party not agreed to by the district. They say the school should have entered into a contract with the Riverdale Downtown Development Authority rather than the third party.

Riverdale Mayor Evelyn Winn-Dixon says safety is the city’s only interest. She denies attempting to keep the school from opening for any other reason.

“I ain’t got a dog in this fight. All we needed to do was just make sure was get in the building and start school.”

Meanwhile, Clayton School Board member Jesse Goree says the board is not standing in Utopian’s way.

“I’m not taking the blame as a school board member, because we had  this issue before us last Monday. We clearly stated we were not putting them out of the building. It is the city of Riverdale’s responsibility to issue the credential not ours.”

Utopian Founder and Executive Director Artesius Miller is hopeful that’s the case. He says the board presenting the school with a new lease agreement would show the district is acting in good faith. Still, Miller believes there are some Riverdale or county officials who don’t want the school to open.

“It’s one of those things where we have presented a charter school application for the last three years and we’ve have been denied, and you have some people that are friends with people from the school board, and it goes back to bullying. We have been in a position where we have not been able to do what need for our community. It’s been delayed because of political games.”

Miller says prior to a few weeks ago school officials were under the impression they had gained all the needed approvals to start school.

City officials say once the school is able to pass the inspections, students could attend classes as early as Wednesday.

In a statement, Clayton County Schools Superintendent Luvenia Jackson called for community leaders to reach a swift resolution to the Utopian School conflict.

“There is a tremendous amount of misinformation circulating in the community that demands clarification.  “It is contemptible that children in Clayton County are subjected to adult issues from the Riverdale Downtown Development Authority and political manipulation,” said Superintendent Jackson. “However, while we are committed to pursue a solution to this matter as quickly as possible, much of what needs to be done is currently out of our hands,” said Jackson.

The released went on to say, “The Clayton County Public Schools has continued to reach out to the RDDA in an attempt to expedite a settlement.  Unfortunately, the RDDA is refusing to act.

Today, we understand that Utopian Academy is seeking a court order for the City of Riverdale to inspect the building and issue the certificate of occupancy.  CCPS is not a party to this lawsuit and will not stand in the way of Utopian moving forward with opening the school and beginning classes for their students.  The System will continue to work towards a final resolution of the lease agreement.”

Last week, the Clayton School Board authorized its attorneys to proceed with negotiations with the the Riverdale Downtown Develop Authority, regarding the lease. 

In a statement last week the district said, “An offer will be made to the tenant that will provide for the students of Utopian Academy to attend school at the property as soon as possible, if the offer is accepted.”