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A Durham charter school facing imminent closure received a lifeline this week from the North Carolina Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB). The CSRB voted on Monday, April 7, to grant a three-year renewal to the Community School of Digital and Visual Arts (CSDVA), reversing its earlier decision to close the school.
CSDVA had earned the non-renewal vote from the CSRB in January due to financial and governance concerns. That decision put CSDVA, which opened in 1998 as one of the state’s first charter schools, on track for closure in June.
However, the school quickly appealed the non-renewal to the State Board of Education (SBE). On March 4, a SBE committee heard the appeal, ultimately recommending that the SBE remand the matter back to the CSRB to consider additional information. On March 6, the full SBE accepted the appeals committee’s recommendation.
That chain of decisions put CSDVA leaders back in front of the CSRB on Monday, where they outlined a new compliance and restructuring plan in a last-ditch effort to save their school.
While the CSRB voted on Monday to grant the school a three-year renewal, it came with strict stipulations and warnings.
“If this isn’t the biggest scare of your life, it should be,” CSRB member Eric Sanchez told school leaders. “Don’t come back here with basics not being done.”
Additionally, the three-year term is not guaranteed if CSDVA fails to meet stipulations. The CSRB could “convene at any time and still vote to close the school,” CSRB Chair Bruce Friend said.
In addition to reconsidering CSDVA’s renewal, the CSRB also heard an update on 10 charter schools launching this fall at its April meeting. Continually low-performing schools also shared progress updates with the board.
More on CSDVA reconsideration and renewal
In a March 7 letter to Friend and CSDVA’s Acting Director Brian Crawford, SBE Chair Eric Davis outlined the State Board’s ruling. He asked the CSRB to either affirm its non-renewal or grant the school a renewed charter.
Davis also asked the CSRB to consider specific information in its decision process: the results of recent audits, school plans for addressing deficiencies, requirements for a minimum renewal, “evidence of immediate serious attention” to improving school operations, and a plan for success moving forward.
In addition, Davis affirmed the SBE’s view that the CSRB acted appropriately in January, writing:
I need to make it clear that the SBE believes the Charter Schools Review Board had no choice but to vote to close the School because of the lack of legally required audits, the failure of the School’s board to hold required meetings and produce and vote on budgets and minutes for the School’s board meeting, the failure to produce requested documents and the failure of the full board to carry out its duties, including a failure to appear at meetings of the CSRB where the school’s future was being debated. These are inexcusable failures that rest solely on the school’s board and leadership.
However, Davis said “the SBE has given the school another opportunity to present to the CSRB information that demonstrates that it can run a viable school only because students at the school have recently appeared to make academic progress. These students belong to a demographic that traditionally struggles academically.”
Prior to CSRB deliberations, Jennifer Bennett, the senior director of School Business Services at DPI, presented an updated financial assessment. Her office received CSDVA’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 audit on March 31, she said.
In her risk assessment summary, Bennett noted that the school was “in a critical financial state, with a 17% decline in Average Daily Membership (ADM), significant deficiencies in its annual audit, expenditures exceeding revenues for four years, and a critically low unassigned General Fund balance.”
In another presentation, the Office of Charter Schools (OCS) cited the school’s numerous areas of noncompliance.
All but one member of the CSDVA board, along with some staff, appeared in person to address failures and propose corrective steps.
“We had a confluence of a couple of things last year,” said Crawford, citing an enrollment drop and a late payment from the local school district.
State statute says that “if a student attends a charter school, the local school administrative unit in which the child resides shall transfer to the charter school an amount equal to the per pupil share of the local current expense fund of the local school administrative unit for the fiscal year.”
The school’s FY 2024 audit, conducted by Sharpe Patel CPA, affirmed a delay took place, saying that “school finances are impacted by late payments from Durham Public Schools.” However, the audit still found that the school “continues to experience declines in net position and working capital.”
Bennett said she would validate late payment information with the district, and that it would help explain the school’s declining fund balance.
CSRB member Lindalyn Kakadelis, who was familiar with the district payment problem last year, said any charter school with students from Durham received a late payment.
In addition to addressing finances, CSDVA leaders spoke about enrollment, which increased this year. The school now serves 218 students, said board treasurer Bonnie Hauser, compared to 178 last year.
Board members also accepted culpability for poor governance.
“We heard you loud and clear,” said Joe Battle, the school’s board chair. “We as a board needed to get our act together.”
To address failures, CSDVA’s proposed restructuring plan includes a new board specialist.
“One of the underlying messages that we heard from your Board is we had too much responsibility in one person,” Hauser said. “The board specialist will be very specifically responsible for compliance and communications.”
School leaders also outlined their plans to relocate. The current facility is under contract for $3.25 million, Battle said, and school leaders hope to move this summer. A key reason for selling the facility, according to the school’s restructuring plan, is to “free up capital to support school operations.”
However, the relocation came as a surprise to the CSRB.
“You just can’t decide to pick up and move,” said Friend, noting that the school first needed to secure approval from OCS — and potentially the CSRB — to relocate.
Prior to voting, CSRB Vice Chair John Eldridge asked Battle what decision he would make if roles were reversed.
“We’ve exceeded growth,” responded Battle. “We don’t have a lot of probation or disciplinary issues, and given our school, that’s unusual. So, we’ve perfected a secret sauce in terms of the populations we are serving… I would vote for a three-year renewal.”
According to CSDVA’s website, 95% of the school’s student population is African American and 5% is Hispanic. About 85% of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged.
“Please don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” Battle said in his closing remarks. “Don’t lose sight of the good work that we’re doing and the hard-to-serve communities that we’re reaching.”
In the end, while CSRB members expressed misgivings about pervasive leadership failures, they wanted to avoid putting students through a school closure.
“The only way I could make myself support this would be because of the kids,” CSRB member Shelly Shope said. “I don’t know what’s going to be the pixie dust that makes it work this time… But again, back to the kids — it’s not their fault that the school is managed the way it has been.”
The CSDVA renewal includes these five stipulations:
- At the request of the CSRB, and at a minimum of once a year, the school must present a governance, financial, and academic report to the CSRB.
- Provide monthly board minutes to OCS.
- Submit the annual audit on time.
- Ensure all board members participate in at least two annual trainings offered by OCS or another provider, and provide documentation in the annual report to the CSRB.
- Provide monthly updates to OCS regarding a potential move, beginning May 1, 2025.
This will be CSDVA’s third consecutive three-year renewal.
Ready to open schools
The CSRB also heard an update from OCS on 10 charter schools slated to open this fall:
The chart below includes numbers from the latest Ready to Open report. It outlines schools’ approved Year 1 ADM, total applications so far for 2025-26, and the number of students necessary for schools to break even.
Figures in the April OCS update only reflect applications. Enrollment data is set to come next month.
Most schools are on track with their facilities, the OCS report said.
One of the schools, Liberty Charter Academy, experienced a renovation delay and is looking into alternatives. Triad International Studies Academy is awaiting a special use permit for its renovation, according to the presentation, and Sledge Institute is in final negotiations for a lease.
Continually low-performing schools
Seven continually low-performing charter schools updated the CSRB on their efforts to boost achievement.
Low-performing schools have earned a D or F school performance grade and earned a school growth score of “met expected growth” or “not met expected growth.” Continually low-performing schools have been identified as low-performing for at least two of three consecutive years. One-third of the state’s charter schools fall into one or both of these categories, according to Monday’s OCS presentation.
School leaders generally reported some improvements in achievement, but also cited challenges with attendance and staffing.
Ben Karaduman, the superintendent of TMSA Public Charter Schools, said TMSA Charlotte has focused on meeting student needs by offering both accelerated and remedial programs. Strategies for improvement, according to the school’s presentation, include after school tutoring, intervention classes, pullout support, and a Saturday academy.
TMSA Charlotte, which serves 722 K-12 students, is currently designated as continually low-performing, but not low-performing.
“We still have a long way to go, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction,” said TMSA Charlotte Principal Amani Saeed.
To help with teacher recruitment, TMSA has offered a $5,000 signing bonus for new or transferring teachers, Karaduman said, along with staff supports and professional development.
In addition, school leaders from these five KIPP NC campuses also shared a combined performance update:
According to OCS, all the schools are continually low-performing, and the Durham and Halifax schools are also low-performing.
Last year, KIPP Charlotte exceeded growth, school leaders said. The charter’s two Charlotte campuses serve 771 students.
CSRB member Rita Haire asked about student and staff attendance. Factors that detract from attendance include Charlotte’s cost of living, along with staff who work two jobs, said Malcolm Brooks, the principal at KIPP Change Academy.
“Many of our families live in hotels,” he said.
If fluctuating hotel rates prompt a move, families will contact the school for help finding a new bus. This may take the school a couple of days to figure out, Brooks said, possibly negatively impacting attendance.
At KIPP Durham, two campuses serve 370 students. That charter did not meet overall growth last year, leaders said. Fortunately, teacher salary supplements — made possible by a $450,000 investment from the KIPP Foundation — have helped attract top talent, leaders said.
“With the KIPP Foundation additional funding, we were able to attract other staff,” said Monica Villafuerte, head of schools for KIPP NC. “What we’ve done differently is being really intentional about who we hired and who we’re putting in front of children.”
That, along with curriculum, planning, and scheduling for intervention blocks, will help close gaps, Villafuerte said.
KIPP Halifax, which serves 513 students, also did not meet overall growth last year, according to Emily Cook Dwight, a member of KIPP NC’s leadership team. The Halifax campus will consolidate with KIPP Gaston next year.
Finally, leaders from Classical Charter Schools (CCS) of Whiteville also shared a presentation highlighting their progress. CCS-Whiteville, a K-8 school, is continually low-performing and low-performing. The school met growth last year, according to Kimberly Patrick, the school’s headmaster, who said performance is “rebounding” in most groups.
While CCS-Whiteville is not outperforming the local district, it “serves a… broader, more diverse student population,” said Patrick, who added that the school outperforms, or is competitive with, neighboring districts.
Patrick also highlighted the school’s performance on the CLT-8, or Classic Learning Test, a reading and math exam that leverages classic texts. This year, CCS-Whiteville tied for third on CLT-8’s national ranking.
New application and bill to expand CSRB authority
The CSRB continued its revision of the state’s 2026 charter application. OCS is still receiving public comment and will bring a revised application back in June.
Meanwhile, changes could be coming to the CSRB. In late March, state lawmakers in both chambers introduced a bill, “2025 Charter Schools Review Board Omnibus,” which would expand CSRB authority if passed.
Rep. David Willis, R-Union, is the primary sponsor of the House bill, H.B. 556. Sens. Brad Overcash, R-Gaston; Kevin Corbin, R-Macon; and Ted Alexander, R-Cleveland; are primary sponsors of S.B. 689, the companion bill in the Senate.
Some provisions of the omnibus bill include:
- Requiring CSRB approval of all rules and policies related to charter schools, prior to SBE approval.
- Shifting authority from the state Superintendent to the CSRB for establishing standardized procedures around the transfer of local funds from districts to charters.
- Providing for CSRB review of charter federal funding decisions.
- Allowing the CSRB to require school improvement plans from low-performing or continually low-performing charter schools, and exempting other charter schools from state requirements regarding school improvement plans.
- Requiring the OCS director to report to the CSRB, rather than the state Superintendent.
The legislation would also exempt charter schools from having to report class rank on transcripts and allow them to use alternative teacher evaluations.
Under the bill, parameters for remote charter academies would also shift, with academies enrolling 250 students or more receiving their own charter, on an expedited timeline. Charter schools operating in-person and remote academies would receive separate performance grades for each school model.
The bill must be taken up by a House or Senate committee to move forward.
The CSRB meets next on May 5.
Editor’s Note: EdNC has retained Kristen Blair to cover the monthly meetings of the Charter Schools Review Board in 2025. Kristen currently serves as the communications director for the North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools. She has written for EdNC since 2015, and EdNC retains editorial control of the content.
