Dear Editor,

I would like to start by stating I really appreciate the Decatur County Board of Education (DBOE). My husband, who has made a career out of education, is a product of this school system. What wonderful, dedicated teachers we have in the Decatur County School District. I also wholeheartedly support the opening of Spring Creek Charter Academy, the area’s first public charter school. For those who may not know, Spring Creek Charter Academy is a replication of Pataula Charter Academy, a public charter school in Edison that has a long track record of academic success. Spring Creek Charter Academy is expected to open during the next school year for students in grades K-5, eventually expanding by a grade level per year until it serves students through the twelfth grade. I love the school’s mission, which is to prepare students for life-long success by partnering with families and communities to create a safe, nurturing learning environment that engages and challenges students, fosters creativity, and instills integrity and leadership skills that inspire students to reach their full potential.

I’m excited that students in Decatur, Seminole and Miller Counties will now have an additional public school option so that every family in our area can find a school that is the best fit for their individual children. I love that Spring Creek Charter Academy’s curriculum is dedicated to a focus on real-world problem solving skills, hands-on learning experiences, innovative assessment strategies and service learning. This style of teaching, along with the opportunity to gain knowledge through project-based learning and experiences outside the classroom, are the perfect match for the way my daughters learn. The new public charter school will also have smaller classrooms, greater flexibility to cater the curriculum to the student’s needs, and provide additional learning opportunities designed to engage and excite students.

Since Spring Creek Charter Academy is approved at the state level, it will receive only state and federal dollars. All local property tax funding will remain with the Decatur County School District. I believe this new public school option will be an enormous asset to students and families in our county and southwest Georgia.

– Claire Webb