A formal complaint filed by Greene County School Superintendent Dr. Chris Houston regarding enrollment practices for new students at Lake Oconee Academy was sent to the Georgia Department of Education, Federal Programs and Special Education, and the Professional Standards Committee.
The complaint, which was shared with Lake Oconee News, alleges the charter school, led by Dr. Otho Tucker as the former CEO, has admitted students of part-time employees over students who would otherwise be eligible.
Existing state law allows only for the enrollment of children of full-time employees, but the complaint states that 99 children were enrolled at LOA over a five-year period due to part-time employment. Many of the employees are substitute teachers, Titan Tech workers, and part-time paraprofessionals.
In some cases, some workers received as little as $75 for work at the school.
LOA asserted in charter negotiations that the law allowed for part-time employment as well. This sticking point caused much debate when a new charter was being developed for the school. The charter was submitted with the collective understanding and agreement to prioritize enrollment of only full-time students.
A new bill, HB 1122, passed the General Assembly and awaits the governor’s signature would change the rules to allow the practice to continue and institute a 20-hour weekly standard.
The BOE asserts that the practice was illegal and reduced opportunities for parents who do not have the luxury to volunteer or work part-time. The complaint alleges LOA unfairly passed over children on the waiting list, which now stands at 278. This would include special-needs students and children who may be economically disadvantaged.
An analysis showed that, during the 2023-24 school year, 43 percent of the children of employees enrolled at LOA had parents who were employed on a part-time basis. Of these, 88 percent had parents employed as substitute teachers or after-school daycare workers not eligible for employment benefits. The complaint describes the practice as an effort to gain employment to avoid the lottery.
From 2016-21, the percentage of remaining slots filled by students marked with employee child priority status averaged around six and accounted for less than 20 percent of those remaining slots. For the 2020-21 school year, that number was eight percent. However, starting with the 2021-22 school year through 2023-24, that number increased dramatically each year, from 36 percent to 70 percent to 87 percent.
Consequently, only 13 of the 112 new student enrollments for the 2023-24 school year were either not in pre-k or children of employees.
The complaint also outlines the school’s practice with the hiring of “contributing consultants.”
ESPN analyst and former Florida head football coach Dan Mullen was employed and paid approximately $5,000 over 10 months, and his children were enrolled. However, he publicly denied being part of the coaching staff at LOA. According to the complaint, the enrollment of his children will cost Greene County and the State of Georgia approximately $30,000 per year.
LOA is the highest-performing school in the county, according to annual test results. A formal enrollment lottery is held each April.
Most slots are filled as students move on to higher grades, creating a limited number of enrollment slots. Each year, parents hold their breath hoping to have their children admitted, and wait for notification of the lucky draw. Students of siblings currently enrolled are also considered priority students.
Tucker did not wish to comment on the formal complaint nor the part-time employment concerns. He is currently a consultant to the LOA Board of Governors and is running for chairman of the BOE against incumbent Dr. Lee Perry.
Former LOA Board of Governors Chairman Mark Lipscomb is running for BOE District 2, challenging incumbent Joe Bashore, who is also the county’s Emergency Management Services director.
When asked about knowledge of enrollment of part-time employees’ children, Lipscomb said he was never aware of the practice.
Dr. Brad Bowling, current Executive Director of LOA, told the Lake Oconee News that no enrollment of any part-time students has occurred since his hire.
Current LOA Board of Governors Chairman Michael Tomkins was not available for comment at press time.